Starting in 1776 he studied under Jurriaan Andriessen at the Stadstekenacademie (City Drawing School).
He primarily painted depictions of buildings and landscapes. He then used the award money to travel and work around Germany where he visited Düsseldorf, the Rhine, and Mannheim, before ultimately returning to Amsterdam. In 1801 he was appointed secretary-director at Stadstekenacademie.
Kuyper became a member of the Felix Meritis artist community.