Ping Lin

I was born and brought up in Chengdu, China. I initially trained in an art studio in Chengdu and then went on to work there as a practicing artist in painting and sculpture. I am currently living in London and working as a portrait artist, photographer and writer.

In 1992, I moved to the UK to improve my already flourishing English language in preparation for studying at the London Guildhall University. In 1994, I gained a City and Guild certificate in ‘Creative Crafts, Design for Handcraft Production and Preparing Working Designs’. Then I went on to gain an MA in ‘Applied Art and Visual Culture’ in 1996.

It was whilst living in Aberdeenshire in Scotland that I discovered a passion for photography. I joined a camera club there and won a notable number of regional awards. Starting with guidance from the camera club, I am largely self-taught in this field, but I continue to explore every aspect from portraits to landscapes and from still life to art house compositions.

Recently I translated and compiled my father’s (LIN Xiangbei) memoir: “TO SURVIVE IS VICTORY”. My father’s account is a moving story. He was born in 1917 and his life has spanned feudal society, foreign aggression, civil war, The Cultural Revolution and the advent of modern China. The book was published in September 2019.

I am now specialising in portraiture in the media of: Oil on canvas and photography