Painter and collector born at Hallerton Hall, Leicestershire. From a monied background, he was, all his life, of independent means. Studd (known as 'Peter') read history at King's College, Cambridge, 1884–1887 where his peers included Roger Fry. He went on to study art under Legros at the Slade School 1888–1889, and at the Académie Julian, Paris, 1889. He visited Le Pouldu in Brittany, 1890, where he befriended Gauguin and De Haan. Although strongly influenced by Gauguin, his style changed after he had worked with Whistler 1892–1895. He visited Samoa and Tahiti about 1898. However, he did not become completely acquainted with Whistler until his return to London in 1894, when he became Whistler's neighbour in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. They painted together at Lyme Regis, Dorset and in Dieppe.