Chronology

1958

— Born in Kapar, Selangor, Malaysia.

1970

— Awarded 2nd prize in the first painting competition organized by Soo Jin Primary School in Kapar.

1971

— Attended Kwang Hua High School in Klang.

1975

— Attended Technical Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

1978

— Attended The Percival Whitley College Of Further Education, Halifax, UK.

1979

— Studied Control Systems and Computing Science in the University of Sheffield, UK.

— Started to develop an interest in photography.

1980

— Studied Photography with International Correspondence School in London, under the tutorship of the late Mr. Richard Farrand, a Fellow member of both the Royal Photographic Society(FRPS) and the British Institute of Professional Photographers(FBIPP). At that time, Mr. Farrand sat on the qualification panel for both societies. Mr. Farrand commented on my photographic works “………your treatment of subjects is refreshingly unusual and novel……you clearly have a good eye for a subject”.

1982

— Met Mr. Ray Brightman(FRPS) and late Mr. Alan Jackson(FRPS) who were members of the qualification Panel of the Royal Photographic Society.

— Returned to Malaysia after graduating with an Honours Degree in Control Systems and Computing Science.

1983

— Awarded Gold Medal and a Bronze Medal in the 16th Malaysia International Salon of Photography officiated by then Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, Mr. Oo Gin Sun(SDK, AMK,JP).

— Photographic works selected for the 26th New Zealand International Salon of Photography and also the Royal Photographic Society(UK) Annual International Color Slide Competition.

— Invited to contribute write-ups and photographic works to Sin Chew Jit Poh, a daily national Chinese Newspaper in Malaysia.

— Invited to attend the Birkenhead Photography Association 1983 International Colour Salon held at Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, which was officially opened by His Grace The Duke of Westminster.

1984

— Photographic works accepted for exhibition in the Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore International Photographic Competitions.

— Moved to Singapore and worked for the Information Systems Department of the Housing Development Board.

1985

— Awarded Certificate of Merit in the 18th Malaysia International Salon of Photography.

— Met the late Dr. Chen Wen Hsi, one of the Singapore pioneer artist.

1987

— Obtained the Associateship of The Royal Photographic Society(ARPS) of Great Britain.

— Invited by the Photographic Society of Malaysia to hold an exhibition of the successful ARPS panel in Kuala Lumpur.

— Awarded Top Ten Award in the Singapore National Creative Photography Exhibition; the winning work was published in the national Chinese newspaper.

1988

— Married to Yee Shau Ling who holds a Master Degree in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester.

1989

— Obtained the Fellowship of The Royal Photographic Society(FRPS) of Great Britain to become the first individual in Singapore to hold a Fellowship in Portraiture.

1990

— Invited to attend the International Photography Conference organized by British Institute of Professional Photographers(BIPP) and met renown British professional photographers including George Dawber, Fiona Alison, Michael Frost and Alan Showcross(the Official Royal Photographer).

— Started to teach Photography in the National University of Singapore Extra-Mural Department.

— Invited by the National University of Singapore to showcase his Fellowship panel.

1991

— Started to operate Portrait Master Studio.

— Invited to be member of the Wedding Photographers International of United States.

— Took part in the Oversea Members Exhibition by the Royal Photographic Society, UK.

1992

— Photographic work accepted for publishing in the 1992 Photography Year Book, UK, by Fountain Press UK.

— Befriended Vice Director of Shanghai Academy of Calligraphy & Painting, Mr. Chen Shi Zhong.

1993

— Interviewed by the Woman magazine of Malaysia and featured as a highly successful Malaysian photographer in Singapore.

— International Kodak consultant Mr. Paul Ness visited Portrait Master Studio.

1994

— Started Chinese ink painting under the influence of Mr. Chen Shi Zhong.

— Interviewed by the Singapore national daily Chinese newspaper and featured as a professional who switched careers during mid-life.

— Met world famous Chinese painter Mr. Cheng Shi Fa.

— Befriended famous Singapore artist Mr. Siew Hock Meng.

1998

— Invited by the National University of Singapore(NUS) to exhibit and talked on Portraiture at the "Wide Angle" photographic seminar.

— Started to explore into contemporary Chinese ink painting.

1999

— Invited by National Institute of Education(NIE) to speak on Portraiture.

2000

— Featured as a successful high end photographic studio in Singapore by the New Paper.

2001

— Selected as one of the four photographers to be featured live on Arts Central with regard to the topic of Portrait Photography.

2006

— Graduated with a Master’s degree in Contemporary Practice, University of Huddersfield, UK.

2008

— Terminated Photographic business Portrait Master Studio.

2013

— Singapore debut solo art exhibition in March organized by HaoZhen Art Gallery. Exhibition was graced by Singapore First Lady Mrs Mary Tan, Ex-Deputy PM's wife Mrs Goh Keng Swee, Tan Sri Dato Dr Lee Shin Cheng(Malaysia), high court judge Mr Quentin Loh and other prominent guests.

— Artwork selected for the Shanghai Dowmin Modern Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Auction(Item 72) in December.

2014

— Hong Kong debut solo art exhibition in May organized by Asia Fineart Gallery.

— Artwork selected for Shanghai Dowmin Contemporary Painting and Calligraphy(Item 5) in December.

2015

— Macao debut solo art exhibition at the Taipa Museum- an invitation by the Macao government.

— One of two winners under the category Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Others in the First Chinese Contemporary Ink Art Competition organised by Yidian and the Chinese biggest uction house Poly Auction Pte Ltd.

2016

— Ten artists group exhibition in Singapore organised by ArtSafe Pte Ltd.

2017

— Painting awarded First Place in the 47th International Watercolor Exhibition organised by the Louisiana Watercolor Society, United States.

— Painting awarded Fifth Place in the International Watermedia 2017 art exhibition organised by the Pikes Peak Watercolor Society of Colorado, United States.

— Painting selected for the 40th International Watercolor Exhibition organised by the Watercolor Art Society-Houston, United States.