Collection: Zi Ling

Zi Ling's early years mainly focused on etching, in which she was fascinated with the mark-making of abstract figures. Now Zi Ling is on her way of communication through portrait painting, especially using watercolour as a medium. The relationship between brush, colour and paper excites her.  

She observes real-life people and also finds emotional moments from photographic images as inspiration. With watercolour, she trusts her intuition before making any marks. She thinks each portrait is a result of whatever truth one feels at the very beginning. Colour is crucial to her because, for her, it represents different personalities and realities.   

Ling trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Chelsea College of Arts and Central Academy of Fine Arts China.

Ling received the Cass Art Prize (2019), DAC Beachcroft Space Prize (2018), Frank Herring Easel Award (2018), First Prize of Leathersellers Award (2016), and the Rosemary & Co. Prize (2015) from the Princess Michael of Kent. 

She is a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the co-Artistic Director of Eldarin Yeong Studio's theatre company.