Conventional modelling techniques rely on workload parameters obtained from an existing system and the development of a system model. For software under development this is a hindering factor for performance evaluation and the performance prediction. Software Performance Engineering (SPE) offers a solution to this problem by using a software execution model, in addition to the system model. The use of SPE for parallel software has several disadvantages: complex nature of the SPE system model, non re-usable model components, and lack of analytical methods to evaluate the system model. A novel layered approach is presented here, using separate hardware, parallel paradigm, and application layers to overcome these disadvantages. The layered approach is illustrated, and results obtained, using an image processing benchmark.