Landscape painter. Perigal was born in Edinburgh, the son of another Arthur Perigal (1784 - 1847), who was a historical and portrait painter.
He established himself early as a landscape painter in oil and watercolour and visited Italy, painting in Venice.
Perigal was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Academy (1868) and was appointed its treasurer in 1880. He exhibited at the Royal Academy (London) between 1861 and 1884.
Perigal died in Edinburgh.