Chang Chien-Ying

Chang Chien-Ying studied at Central University at Nanking, where she met her future husband, Fei Chung-Wei. They both won British Council grants to study in Britain and achieved places at the Slade, where they were influenced by British painter Stanley Spencer. They began their studies in Britain in Western Painting Techniques in 1946. After the communist takeover of China they remained in Great Britain. She presented traditional Chinese painting skills all over the country and also presented Chinese cooking in the television, while her husband started an academic career.

She worked as a calligrapher and therefore received orders to illustrate books of poems and several film-sets about China. One of her best friends was comedian Bob Hope at that time. She also designed some work for famous fashion designer Christian Dior and sung in Peking Opera productions.

After her husband's death she returned twice to Shanghai but found that she recognized nothing. Chang Chien-Ying and her husband arranged that when they had both died their ashes were to be scattered in front of the magnolia trees at Kenwood House, Hampstead.