The first thing visitors notice when they step into Peter Knapton’s home is the warmth. Not just from the fireplace, which fills the air with the comforting scent of burning wood, but from the atmosphere he and his wife have created. His house is more than a place he lives; it is a gallery, a workshop, and a reflection of the steady, thoughtful way he moves through the world.
Art fills the space in a way that feels lived-in rather than curated. Paintings from friends, bronze sculptures gifted over the years, and a collection of taxidermy pieces, each with its own story, line the walls of his home gallery.
Peter moves through the space with the familiarity of someone who sees beauty in every object, whether it is a delicate carving or an animal given a second life through skilled hands.
He works in the shop attached to the back of the house, a place where tools sit exactly where he needs them. Projects progress at a pace that suits him.
“I’m slow at what I do,” he said with a small smile. “I like taking my time and putting as much as I can into something.”
Knapton knows he could never work in a fast-paced, high-production shop where, as he put it, someone is “whipping a whip saying you better get these things in.” That has never been his style.
His wife, Heather, has watched his career and creative process for years, and says this careful nature is part of what makes him exceptional.
“A lot of people don’t have that deep desire, knowing what you want to do and loving it,” she said. “It makes a difference in your life when you love what you’re doing. Peter’s fortunate that way.”
While taxidermy and wildlife artistry can be misunderstood, Heather has seen how thoughtfully Knapton approaches it.
“People look and think it’s mean,” she said. “But the animal died, it was hit by a car, or flew into a window, or was hunted legally. Giving it new life can be meaningful.”
She explains how the hunting and fishing world contributes millions of dollars to conservation, something most people “don’t stop to think about.”
Outside of his work, Knapton is known in his community as someone who helps without seeking recognition.
Friends at church describe him as creative, humble, and intelligent; someone who does not like to be the centre of attention but likes to travel the world.
Knapton’s travels have taken him across continents, often to places far from tourist paths. Souvenirs from those journeys are tucked naturally into the corners of his home. Each holds a story he rarely volunteers unless asked directly.
“You learn a lot when you’re in unfamiliar places,” he said. “Mostly about how similar people are.”
Back in his shop, unfinished pieces wait in a quiet row, each one marked lightly with the beginning of an idea. Knapton doesn’t see them as tasks but as possibilities.
In the warmth of his home and the stillness of his workshop, he continues shaping the world at his own pace, patiently, carefully, and with a gentleness that mirrors the life he leads.