Petr was born in the Czech Republic and grew up on the outskirts of Prague. He studied at the High School of Art in Parague and then the Academy of Fine Art in Prague.

In 1995 Petr moved to England. His first books Strawberries are Red and What is Black and White? were published in 2001 and he received the Books For Children Newcomer Award the same year.

Since then Petr has written and illustrated many books for children including Silly Suzy Goose and Butterfly, Butterfly. He likes music, books, playing tennis, drawing and painting. He lives in Worcester with his wife Claire and daughters Tereza and Cecilia.