Artists : Wei-Li Zhu

Profile.

Wei Li Zhu (pronounced Waylee Zoo) was brought up in China and received her art education there, learning thoroughly the techniques of a traditional western academic style. She moved to Singapore in 1987 where she taught full-time at one of the two art schools, before settling in the U.K. in 1991.

Over the years she has developed a more contemporary style, underpinned by her rigorous early training. A figurative painter in an essentially Scottish tradition, she produces enigmatic works of great charm, serenity, and luminosity. She is also a portraitist of superlative talent, and has completed numerous commissions throughout the U.K. and abroad. Wei Li is a regular exhibitor at Aberdeen Art Gallery; the Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen; The Edinburgh Gallery, Edinburgh; and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, London.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Born Shanghai, China.
1980-84 Attended Shanghai Art University, graduated BA(Hons.) Painting.
1988-90 Full-time lecturer at Nan Yang Academy of Fine Art, Singapore.
1990-91 Studied at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen. Gained a Postgraduate Diploma (Merit) in painting.
1995-96 Part-time lecturer at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen.

Exhibitions

1982-83 Shanghai Youth Art Exhibition.
1988 UOB Painting of the Year Exhibition, Singapore.
1989 Art and Media Exhibition, National Museum, Singapore.
11th International Art Inter-change and Asia Art Exhibition,
Taiwan.
International Artists Exhibition (Korea, Japan and Singapore)
Tokyo.
1991 Solo Exhibition, National Museum, Singapore.
1993-2002 Aberdeen Artists’ Annual Exhibition, Aberdeen Art Gallery.
1993-1999 Morrison Portrait Competition, RSA, Edinburgh.
1993 Solo Exhibition, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen.
1997 Solo Exhibition, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen.
1998 Joint Exhibition, The Edinburgh Gallery, Edinburgh.
1997-2001 Edinburgh Festival Exhibition, The Edinburgh Gallery, Edinburgh.
1995-2002 Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall
Galleries, London.
2001 Solo Exhibition, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen.
2002 Reunion, Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen.
2004 Rendezvous Gallery, Aberdeen.
2004 Star Portraits, BBC TV
Star Portraits, New Art Gallery, Walsall.

Public Collections Private Collections

UOB Bank Group, Singapore USA, Singapore, Holland,
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Germany, France, UK.
The British Council, Singapore.
(pto)

Portrait Commissions include

Mrs.Wong Kang Seng (wife of Foreign Secretary, Singapore); Mr. Ho Kah Leong (Minister of State for Culture, Singapore); Mr. Kuek Hong Peng (Chairman, Hong Leong Holdings LTD, Singapore); Mr. Alan Webster (Head of The British Council, Singapore); Mr. T. Ehret (CEO, Coflexip-Stena, France); Mr. F. Clark (Director, Scofish Int. LTD, Aberdeen); Mr. D. Reid (Deputy Director, TESCO); Mr. D. Spawforth (Headmaster, Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh); Mr. D Craig OBE (Chairman, George Craig Group LTD); Fiona Kennedy (Singer and TV Personality); Willie Millar (former Scottish Football International) and family; Mr. Brian Lockhart (Headmaster, Robert Gordon College); Charlie Dimmock for BBC TV.