Hugh Petter trained at Portsmouth School of Architecture. He won Rome Scholarships in 1990 and 1991. In 1992 he helped to establish the Foundation Course at The Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture in London where he was Senior Tutor until 1998. He joined Robert Adam Architects in 1993 and became a Director in 1997.

His work includes extensive experience in alterations, extensions and repairs to historic properties including The British School at Rome by Sir Edwin Lutyens, and new buildings in a variety of traditional styles. Hugh Petter is a recognised authority on classical and traditional architecture and his work is widely published and exhibited, both in the UK and internationally.

He is often invited to lecture and is a visiting tutor to several colleges in the UK and North America. Hugh Petter is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an elected brother of the Art Workers' Guild.