Born in Jiangsu in 1968, internationally acclaimed Chinese painter Yizhou graduated from the Huaiyin Normal Academy in 1990 with a Major in Fine Arts and continued on to receive a postgraduate with specialization in oil painting from the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2002. Yi relies on his deep Chinese roots and upbringing to express himself, with a style derived from many years of studying calligraphy and being inspired by classic Chinese landscapes. The lotus is one of his favourite themes. The award-winning artist has exhibited the world over, including China, Germany, France and the USA.