Born in Belfast, Cupar has worked for many years as a Graphic Artist in printing and newspaper advertising. His first love has always been to paint landscape in acrylics, watercolour and mixed media.
In recent years however figures have tended to
dominate, so much so that the landscape has become secondary to foreground subject matter. Humour  and a certain naivety of style is a hallmark of his work. His compositions mainly depict scenes from around North Down where he lives. He also loves to paint life in ‘pre-troubles’ Belfast (circa 1960s), ‘possibly a guarded nostalgia for my childhood in North Belfast.’

He has exhibited in the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Show in recent years and is a member of the Arts Society of Ulster and Bangor Art Club.

He has won prizes at the Percy French Watercolour Annual Shows, the Rose Society of Ulster’s Annual Exhibitions and was holder of the 2007 McDonald Prize
and McKibben Prize in the 2008 Silver Jubilee Medal.

His work is represented in various private collections throughout Ireland, Canada and the UK.