ABOUT ARTIST

Eng Siak Loy


Eng Siak Loy (born 1941) is a distinguished Singaporean artist and graphic designer whose career has made a lasting impact on the nation's visual culture. Born in Guangdong, China, he moved to Singapore with his family in 1949. From a young age, he showed a strong interest in drawing and painting, which led him to study at the Singapore Academy of Art. There, he received formal training in fine art, design, and traditional artistic techniques, laying the foundation for his future career.

After graduating in 1960, mr Eng began working as a graphic designer in Singapore's public sector. Throughout his career, he served in several government organisations, including Radio and Television Singapore, the Ministry of Education, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and later the National Parks Board. His work combined artistic creativity with practical design, helping to communicate ideas clearly while reflecting Singapore's growing national identity.

Although widely recognised as a designer, mr Eng never abandoned his passion for painting. He continued to paint throughout his career, finding inspiration in Singapore's changing landscapes, historic buildings, parks, gardens, rivers, and everyday street scenes. His artworks capture moments of tranquillity and preserve memories of places that have transformed with urban development. Nature has always been a central theme in his paintings, especially flowers, trees, and tropical scenery, reflecting his deep appreciation for Singapore's environment.

Mr Eng works in a variety of media, including watercolour, acrylic, and Chinese ink. His paintings demonstrate careful observation, balanced composition, and refined use of colour. Rather than pursuing abstract or conceptual styles, he focuses on realism with expressive touches, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty of ordinary places and familiar surroundings.

His artistic journey extends beyond gallery exhibitions. Mr Eng is best known for creating Singapore's Portrait Series banknotes, introduced in 1999 and featuring the nation's first President, Yusof Ishak. He also designed more than fifty sets of Singapore postage stamps, commemorative coins, and numerous official publications. These works show how he successfully bridged the worlds of fine art and graphic design, bringing artistic quality into objects used by millions of people every day.

Over the decades, mr Eng's paintings have been exhibited in Singapore and overseas, earning praise for their technical skill and their ability to document Singapore's cultural and natural heritage. His lifelong dedication to art and design was recognised in 2007 when he received the President's Design Award – Designer of the Year, one of Singapore's highest honours in the design field.

Today, Mr Eng Siak Loy is regarded as one of Singapore's most influential visual artists and designers. His career demonstrates that art can exist not only in museums and galleries but also in everyday life—from the money people carry to the stamps they collect and the public spaces they enjoy. Through both his paintings and his design work, he has helped preserve Singapore's history, celebrate its identity, and inspire future generations of artists.

EXHIBITIONS

1960
Graduated from Singapore Art Academy
2002
HSBC Care-for-Nature Heritage Trees Most Beautiful Stamp (Asia)
2007
President’s Design Award Designer of the Year
2008
Tan Tsze Chor Art Award
2015
Designed SG50 commemorative notes

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018   
Art, Heart, Soul – Exhibition by Eng SIak Loy, Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery, Singapore


2009   
"A Garden Dialogue" Exhibition, Singapore

2006   
"Flower Series" Exhibition, Singapore


GROUP EXHIBITIONS

1960-1967    
Southeast Asia Cultural Festival, Singapore, Malaysia and India

1963              
Six-Man Art Exhibition Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore 

1963-1990    
Ministry of Culture National Day Art Exhibitions, Singapore

1965              
Six-Man Art Exhibition Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1965-2008    
Singapore Art Society Exhibitions, Singapore
The Society of Chinese Art Exhibition in Moscow, Soviet Union

1967              
Six-Man Art Exhibition (A.I.A. Building), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1978              
Singapore Artists Art Exhibition in Moscow, Soviet Union

1979               
First Asian Graphic Design Biennial ,Tehran, Iran

1980              
5th Festival of Asian Art - Contemporary Singapore Painting Exhibition, Hong Kong

1987              
The International Teochew Artists' Art Exhibition, Singapore

1988              
1st Bru-Sin Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Negara Brunei Darussalam

1991              
2nd Bru-Sin Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore

2016
ArtSafe Pte Ltd, Singapore​

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

  • Board of Commissioners of Currency, Singapore

  • CEPTA TV, Germany

  • Emperor of Japan

  • Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC)

  • Jurong Town Corporation

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

  • Member of theh Brunei Royal Family

  • National Parks Board, Singapore

  • Singapore Airlines

  • The Monetary Authority of Singapore

  • Rotary Club of Taiwan

  • Other private collectors

MEDIA

Meet the man who designed S’pore’s longest-running currency series - CNA

Eng Siak Loy - President's Design Award Singapore