Storytelling is the core of my art, conveyed through oil, charcoal, calligraphy, watercolour, pencil and ink. I also incorporate oriental artistic sensibilities as a nod to my heritage.
At age 10, I began training in Chinese ink painting and calligraphy, leading to my first solo exhibition at 13. This launched my artistic journey, showcasing my work internationally.
I came to the UK to study architecture, earning RIBA Part 2 qualification. Today, I work as a senior actuary in London.
As a Malaysia-raised artist navigating the corporate world, I am perceptive to cultural differences and attuned to rich experiences. I illuminate hidden stories, especially narratives that are significant yet difficult to express.
My painting on workplace bullying was featured in a magazine and my “Pandemic Portraits” depicting colleagues’ struggles are in the Bank of England Museum. I also facilitated art-related corporate events and Chinese calligraphy workshops. I receive commissions and am enthusiastic about bringing your ideas to life. Please get in touch to discuss!
Beyond art, I am a keen amateur pianist and enjoy playing tennis.
Pau Ling started 2025 with exciting news that her painting “Sidelined: Bruised but Not Beaten” was selected for feature in Issue 56 of the online art magazine “Haus A Rest” on the theme of “Externalising the Internal”. She is also invited to give a speech and Chinese calligraphy workshop in the City of London on 30 January 2025 in conjunction with Lunar New Year.
In 2024, her painting “Glimpse” won the Lloyd’s Art Group Winter Exhibition Public Vote. Earlier the same year, Aspen Insurance Group hangs Pau Ling’s painting ‘Kedai Runcit Chop Hoe Aik’ in the broker’s lounge of its London office. This painting was acquired by Aspen from the 2023 Lloyd’s Art Group exhibition. The painting of Pau Ling’s home country of Malaysia now forms part of Aspen’s global art collection.
In February 2024, Pau Ling was invited by the Insurance Cultural Awareness Network to showcase her art and Chinese calligraphy in conjunction with the Lunar New Year celebrations at AXA XL, City of London. She also gave a talk and live demonstration of Chinese calligraphy on rice paper. In the same month, she ran a community calligraphy workshop at St. Mark’s Community Centre in Beckton, London for around 20 participants. The participants were from the local community, including those with special needs.
Pau Ling’s artistic journey began in Malaysia where she trained in Chinese Ink Painting and calligraphy from age 10 and had her first solo exhibition aged 13. Since then, she has exhibited internationally. She is particularly interested in portraiture using oil and charcoal whilst incorporating oriental artistic sensibilities.
In 2023, she completed her charitable series of ‘Pandemic Portraits’ of Bank of England colleagues including Andrew Bailey. The series was produced from 2020 when she was inspired by events during the pandemic. Her paintings has been in the Bank of England Museum’s permanent collection since 2023. In the same year, she also completed three private commissions - a portrait in oil and canvas and two portraits of pet rabbits in watercolour.
In June 2022, she had her second solo art exhibition, titled ‘Journey’, in Mayfair, London, where she gave a talk about her journey in art and showcased artworks spanning more than two decades.
In 2021, she won the first prize in the Lloyd’s Art Group Public Vote for her oil painting ‘Teddy Bear and Tula Copper’. This painting was subsequently sold to a private collector in London.
In 2017, she was awarded the Aon prize in her debut exhibition at the Lloyd’s Art Group for her mastery across oil, pencil and charcoal. Her successes at the Lloyd’s Art Group exhibitions gave her the boost to pursue her art more seriously. She has since exhibited at Lloyd’s annually.