Contributed by Ms Miu Lim, European Finance Manager for Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

I started dabbling in painting when I was a teenager, when we were taught watercolour painting during art class in school. Since I moved to Europe from Penang, Malaysia in 2001, I started becoming fascinated with oil painting. I find that they can be so detailed and realistic, and that sparked my interest. I taught myself how to use oil paints, and to this day, I’m still constantly learning how to improve my technique and artwork.

Landscapes are my favourite to paint thus far – particularly wind turbines, windmills and nature scenes! I have been inspired by the works of Renaissance artists Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, and contemporary designer-artist Paloma Picasso and Surrealist painter Salvador Dali.

It’s important to me that I don’t paint just for the sake of painting. Once I have an idea, I try to imagine ahead what I want to achieve with the art piece, and what is expressed not just to myself but also to the viewer. After an initial painting of colours and shapes, it may then take weeks or even months to detail and define each part of the painting. While it also depends on the size of the canvas and type of oils used, an oil painting typically takes around six months to complete. Sometimes, I get so engrossed in painting that I constantly dip my paint brush in my coffee mug or water glass instead of my brush cleaner solution!

While I don’t normally paint while on overseas holidays (it’s inconvenient to bring all my painting supplies and easel!), a few of my paintings have been inspired by my vacations to places like Greece, Taiwan, and the Netherlands. It’s fun to take note of the inspiring moment and try to recreate it my paintings when I get back.

My paintings are then put up for sale to fund the materials needed for my next painting. Some of my works have fetched over £1,000, and I have sold to clients from various countries. I have also started getting painting requests from friends and family, and even commissions to do portraits (which I don’t normally paint), and pieces for public display. It’s very encouraging to know that there are people out there who appreciate my artwork.