My Life as an Artist

Mr Cheah Phee Chye was born in Indonesia, Sumantra in Medan in 1935.

1940- Cheah's family migrated to Singapore. In his Primary school years, he met an art teacher, Mdm Tan Boon Pin from mainland China who taught him the basics of pencil drawing and charcoal sketching. He often won 1st prize in the major art competitions organised in this school.

1950- Studied in Chong Chung Chinese High School where he met Mr Koh Phai Tek and the world famous artist Xu Beihong. Mr Koh took Cheah under his personal tutelage and taught him pencil drawings, and charcoal sketching and oil paintings. Cheah continued to win numerous awards for inter-school art competitions. He also represented his school for an art competition and exhibition in Japan.

During this time, he also met Mr Cheng Wee Koh who taught him watercolour painting and Mr Yeh Chi Wei who taught his pastel drawing and oil painting. He also had the privilege of being taught by Mr Liu Kang and Chen Zhong Sui (Singapore's treasured artists).

1952- Cheah was selected by Mr Yeh Chi Wei to be part of the painting painting tour to Malaysia and Bali. An exhibition was then held after this trip to showcase their inspirations of these places. This was a very significant exhibition as it was the first for Singapore to acknowledge the growing art community in the country and also the talents of that era. The exhibition's guest of honour was the Singapore's minister Mr Rajayatam.

1960- Cheah went to Horney College of Art in London for 3 years to pursue a diploma in Graphic Design. His passion for painting was further fuelled by visits to England's countryside and the many art galleries and exhibits. During the summer holidays he visited France, Holland and Italy and studied the strokes of the grand masters. He was greatly inspired by Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gough, Chesan, Michael Angelo, and Matisse.

1964- He returned to Singapore and started to designed the logos of many of Singapore's pioneering companies like Poh Tiong Choon, and Sam Foo Travel.

1970- Opened an Art & Antique shop in Killiney Road and he also provided scroll mounting services which was a rare service available in Singapore at that time.

1980- Cheah was influenced by the Indonesian artist, Hassan Dijava and there was a significant shift in his style of painting.

1990- Cheah felt compelled to have another breakthrough in his work. To do this, he knew he had to get back to the basics, to dig deep within himself. So he set up a studio in Batam (a 30 mins ferry ride from Singapore) to get close to his Indonesian culture and roots and shuttled back and forth between Batam and Singapore to be with his family over the weekends. At that time, Cheah was the only Singaporean artist in Batam, and so he was very much loved by the art the community in the island. He was actively involved in the art activities and participated in their main exhibitions organised by the Nagoya Art Gallery.

2000- Cheah was ready for a comeback and started to become active in the Singapore art scene again. He took part various art exhibitions and competitions including those organised by Chong Cheng High School. One of the most significant exhibitions was the 50 years anniversary art exhibition which was only limited to 30 pioneering artists in Singapore.

2010- One of his paintings was chosen to be exhibited in the Singapore Art Museum to as part of the exhibit for "The Story of Yeh Chi Wei" as Cheah was one of the artists in the Ten Men Group.