Formerly known as The Paper Tole Shop, Decorative Arts Studio opened its doors in 1993, with the introduction of a new form of paper craft to Singapore and countries in the region. Within two years, the shop was retailing and wholesaling to shops locally and regionally. Contacts were established with renowned suppliers to import the materials directly into Singapore at the lowest possible price, with the aim to maintain the affordability of the craft.

With the shift in trends of the craft market to folk art and decorative painting, the studio now concentrates on teaching painting, importing and supplying decorative painting materials to shops and home studios, both in Singapore and in the regional countries.

We have been, and are still distributors of fine American painting and craft products, including Masterson Sta-Wet palettes, DecoArt paints, Loew-Cornell brushes and painting books from many American publishers.

High on the priority of Decorative Arts Studio is to educate and continuously improve on decorative painting skills of the painting fraternity. This is achieved through a multi-pronged approach :

• Structured regular in-house painting lessons for beginners
• Challenging advancement projects for intermediate and advanced students
• Seminars with internationally renowned decorative painting teachers from America, Canada and Australia
• Keeping abreast with new painting products and techniques
  

Seok Hui has been painting since 1997, and has never looked back since then. Trained as a computer science graduate, she was very quickly consumed by her passion for folk art and decorative painting. In 1999, she gave up her job as a market researcher, took over the business and has been teaching the craft since then. She keeps a very busy schedule with classes four times a week, inventory ordering, checking and accounting; in between keeping up with the trends of the craft, and her first love, painting. Upon invitation, she also teaches in schools, clubs and societies, private parties and functions.

Under her reins, the studio has increased its product offering, as well as hosted many international artists like David Jansen, Peggy Harris, Heather Redick, Gretchen Cagle, Scottie Foster, Sharyn Binam, Gladys Neilsen, Lea Davis, Chris Roy, Lorraine Gum, Ros Singleton and Karl-Heinz Meschbach. The studio also organized the very first Southeast Asian Decorative Painting Convention in 2001, and an exhibition aptly name "For The Love of Folk Art - A Tribute To Singapore's Tole Painting Friends".

Decorative Arts Studio
Creating Little Pleasures In Life