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Foot artist's work chosen for Christmas card collection

Debbie Tubby,in Marshamand
Alice Cunningham
News imageBBC Two images side by side - the one on the left shows an older man sitting in a chair. He has grey hair and is wearing a beige jumper with a green top underneath. The image on the right shows someone painting with their feet.BBC
Peter Longstaff who was born with no arms taught himself how to paint with his feet as a child

For most of his life, Peter Longstaff has used his feet to paint scenic landscapes.

The 65-year-old from Marsham, Norfolk, was born without arms after his mother, Brenda Longstaff, was prescribed thalidomide, a drug used to treat morning sickness that caused severe birth defects in thousands of babies.

She encouraged her son to use his feet as a child and he taught himself how to paint. He later gained a number of art qualifications.

Longstaff joined the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) 24 years ago and, for the first time, one of his paintings has been selected for the organisation's 2026 Christmas card collection.

News imageContributed A black and white image of a young boy standing beside his mother who is sat at a table outside. The boy has no arms and is wearing a jumper and trousers. The mother wears a coat with a dress underneath.Contributed
Longstaff said his mother Brenda, 90, was a "strong woman"

Longstaff was one of thousands of babies around the world affected by the thalidomide scandal.

The drug was prescribed to mothers in the late 1950s and early 1960s and, according to the Thalidomide Trust, more than 100,000 babies were affected by it.

"From being born with no arms, my mum encouraged me to use my feet," Longstaff explained.

"I just started to pick things up and then she got me some paper and colouring pencils... so in a sense I don't know any different.

"From then on I've used my foot - it's my right hand."

News imageA man looks down toward the ground where he is painting with his foot. On a white piece of paper he is painting a tree.
Longstaff said practice over the years had helped him improve

At school, Longstaff excelled at art but, as an adult, spent 20 years running a pig farm.

"When I wanted a pig unit, nobody thought I could do it, even my mum and dad were hesitant," he continued.

"I actually started with breeding rabbits, which didn't work out because I didn't enjoy it.

"I went to Norwich Market and I bought two young pigs and that's where it started. I ended up with 200."

News imageA man sits in a tractor using his foot to operate the steering wheel. He is wearing a beige jumper with green trousers.
Longstaff is able to drive his tractor with his feet

Longstaff sold his pig farm in the 1990s to gain various art qualifications and joined the MFPA.

While he stills look after rare pigs, much of his time is now devoted to painting landscapes. It can take him a week or two, sometimes longer, to paint one piece.

This year, his painting Winter Landscape was chosen for the festive card collection, it is the first time one of his artworks has been selected.

News imagePeter Longstaff/MFPA A painting of a winter scene where the sky has turned red either by the sun setting or rising. Snow covers the ground and trees line either side of a clearing. A deer and two pheasants have also been painted. Peter Longstaff/MFPA
Longstaff's painting will feature as one of the Christmas cards in MFPA's 2026 collection

"I was astonished... it makes me proud because I've done a lot of work with this," Longstaff said.

"I've had some tuition, I've done the A-level Fine Art to make myself better, so with that, I've conquered my [goals].

"Hopefully, I can keep going and get a few more."

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