Born in Deloraine, Tasmania. Peter studied at Prahran Technical College from 1951–52 and the Royal Melbourne Technical College from 1953–54 (RMIT University). He lectured at RMIT from 1963 and was Head of the Fine Art Department from 1981 until his retirement in 1990.

A celebration of the life of Peter Clarke was held at our gallery on Wednesday 21st August. Ronald Millar and Peter Ellis both spoke fondly and glowingly about this important artist.

Peter Clarke, one of Australia's finest abstract artists, died in early August 2024, sadly following his great friend Jan Senbergs, who introduced me to Peter over 20 years ago. Both artists had been left without a Melbourne gallery when Powell Street closed and I was fortunate to be able to show their works.

 The avant-garde Gallery A opened in Melbourne in 1959 and later in Sydney with a mission to promote contemporary non-objective art in Australia. Peter Clarke was one of the first artists they exhibited and continued to show until they closed in 1983. Max Hutchinson, founder of the gallery, is best known for procuring Jackson Pollock's masterpiece Blue Poles for Australia. 

Peter taught at RMIT from 1967-1990 and was head of the Fine Art Department from 1985 until he retired. As his partner Colleen Morris stated "He will be remembered as a lover of Spain, music, good food and wine. An artist and passionate Swans supporter till the end'.