Peter McIntyre was born in Dunedin in 1910 and educated at Otago Boys' High School and at the University of Otago, at the age of twenty he went to London to study at the Slade School of Art.

His subsequent work included book illustrations, and stage decoration. At the outbreak of war he joined a New Zealand volunteer unit formed in London as an Anti-Tank Battery, and served in this as a gunner in Egypt. He was commissioned by General Freyberg as Official War Artist, and in this capacity served in Greece, Crete, North Africa, and Italy.

After the war he returned to New Zealand to live departing for painting trips to the Antarctic, to Hong Kong, the Pacific, and the American West - plus a round-the-world trip centered on travel in Britain and the Continent. His pictures of Hong Kong formed an exhibition that toured the United States for three years.

Early in 1970, Queen Elizabeth awarded the coveted Order of the British Empire to Peter McIntyre for his increasing success as an author and for his accomplishments in the fine art fields.

Publications include his illustrated autobiography, The Painted Years, Peter McIntyre's West, Peter McIntyre's Pacific, Peter McIntyre's New Zealand, Peter McIntyre's Wellington, Peter McIntyre: War Artist, McIntyre Country and Kakahi.