He was born in Puthoor, Kerala. After completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum, he worked as a graphic designer in an advertising agency for which he received an international poster award. He also worked in a Mumbai Daily as a film art director and illustrator and painted at night.

In 1992, at the age of 27, he received the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi’s first national award for a painting titled ‘AIR-AIRY’. Sara Abraham, a well-known art collector from Bangalore, purchased this piece later.

In 1993, the Human Resource Development Board, Government of India, conferred him with a Junior Research fellowship for painting. It was only then that he devoted himself to painting full time and gave up his day jobs.

In 1997 he received the British Overseas League award for painting for his work titled ‘Mangled Mother’ which was in the collection of the Singapore high commission in Britain.

His aesthetic sensibilities were honed and his works had a fresh outlook after his trip to the UK where he was exposed to the works of the great old masters and contemporary artists.

In the coming years his works received critical acclaim and several awards including a fellowship from the prestigious Jackson Pollack Foundation in New York.

In 2004, Christies, London auctioned his water colour titled ‘Beloved Tiger’

In addition to this international recognition, Pradeep Puthoor has participated in several state and national camps conducted by the Lalit Kala Akademi and regional and international art exhibitions. He also worked as a lecturer in the Kerala College of Fine Arts.

In 2005 his work has been commissioned by the Indian army and he been invited to participate in Florence Biennale.

His works are in several national and international collections.