Peter Meanley was born in Huddersfield, studied at York School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London. He has exhibited widely and taught for many years at the University of Ulster in Belfast.

Pottery is in Northern Ireland. Predominantly makes salt glazed pouring vessels. Recent work has included Bellarmine Jugs and large scale Toby Jugs.

In 1999 awarded a PHD for research in saltglazing. In 2007 he was one of the craftspeople representing Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC.