Born in 1923, Lim Tze Peng is largely a self-taught artist. In his oeuvre, ink paintings and calligraphic works feature prominently, although there is a small number of oils, watercolours and drawings. He created a unique style of ink painting using rich brush and tonal details, and this approach is often regarded as a manifestation of the Nanyang Style in the ink medium. Lim, a school principal until his retirement in the early 1980s, was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the Singapore government in 2003.The bustling streets and charming back alleys of old Singapore have been a source of inspiration to Lim, and he is known to paint the same spot more than once. Yet, he has always managed to keep his paintings fresh as he looks beyond a realistic representation, and seeks to present the life, colour and activities of the environment.