A painter of landscapes and literary figures including scenes from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, Peter Fishe Reed was born in Boston, but by 1844 was in Cincinnati where he was a house and sign painter. In 1850, he moved to Indiana, settling first at Vernon and then from 1860 to 1863, in Indianapolis. He also taught English, painting and drawing at Whitewater College in Centerville, Indiana.

He frequently painted in Vermont and other locations in New England, but his works are rare to find today.

Reed died in 1887 at the home of his son in Burlington, Iowa.