Joe Fan, born in Hong Kong in 1962,  came to Scotland to study Graphic Design at Aberdeen College of Commerce. He was then advised by an Aberdeen College lecturer to apply for a place at Gray’s School of Art to study Fine Art.  After successfully gaining a place at Gray’s, one of his teachers was Gordon Bryce.  Following graduation in 1988, Joe won the Miller Homes Young Scottish Artist of the Year, and was sent to Paris to spend time at the Cite Internationale des Arts from 1989-1990.

From 1990-1997, Joe returned to Aberdeen and became a Lecturer at Gray’s School of Art in Drawing and Painting. During this period, Joe also spent time as a visiting Lecturer at Cyprus College of Art, Paphos in 1994.