Petrus Johannes was a pupil of his father Johannes Christian Schotel, and like him, specialized in sea and river views. He travelled in France between 1827-1829, and as a result of this journey, he adopted a warmer palette, while continuing to emphasize the dramatic elements of the sea. Between 1830 and 1848 he taught drawing at the Marine Institute in Medemblick, and was considered an expert on the technical and historical details of ships. Towards the end of his life, in 1856, he moved to Germany.
