Born into a renowned musical family, Tamás Péli's father was a master goldsmith, crafting jewelry, chains, and coins. He pursued his artistic studies at the Secondary School of Applied Arts and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Holland, specializing in mural painting. After the vocational secondary school he was admitted to the university, a fortunate coincidence allowed him to study at the Dutch art academy, thanks to a Dutch artist couple who secured him a scholarship.

Through the painting school Péli also travelled to Turkey, where he saw the masterpieces of ancient Greek culture and Islamic art. From 1970 to 1973, he created stained glass windows depicting Old and New Testament scenes for the St. Andrew’s Hospital chapel in Amsterdam, as well as paintings and wood and metal sculptures for the Spar bank Van der Stadt. His diploma work, located in the Romanesque chapel of the Amsterdam Cultural Center, won first prize in a art competition announced by the city council of Amsterdam. His most significant monumental work is the mural decorating the wall of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Holland, covering nearly 50 square meters.

Starting from 1976, Péli was also present in Hungarian exhibitions. In 1982, he created a 12-square-meter triptych commissioned by the Szabó Ervin Library in Budapest to honour Friar Julian, Sándor Kőrösi Csoma, and János Apáczai Csere. On September 24, 1983, he presented the "Születés" (Birth) mural to the Children’s town; the nearly 43-square-meter work is a documenting summary about the history of the Romani people in Hungary.

In addition to his painting career, Péli actively contributed to shaping the Hungarian cultural and political life as a writer and public figure. He is known for his often-quoted statement: "On my forehead, there is a double golden band. One represents my Romani heritage, and the other my Hungarian heritage, and I am not willing to renounce either."

His professional biography and nine oil paintings were featured in the 2009 representative album "Cigány festészet" (Romani Painting) from the Roma House Fine Arts Public Collection.