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Tan Choh Tee was born in Guangdong, China, and moved to Singapore at the age of 12. He studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), where he was taught by pioneering artists such as Cheong Soo Pieng, Georgette Chen, Liu Kang, and Chen Wen-Hsi. He graduated in 1962.

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After graduation, Tan worked as a book designer for McGraw-Hill from 1963 to 1976. As this was a full-time job, he could only paint during his free time. In 1976, he left his job to become a full-time artist. 

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Tan is best known for his realist-impressionist oil paintings of landscapes and scenes of old Singapore. He strongly prefers plein-air painting, working directly from the environment rather than relying on photographs. His works often capture disappearing streets, neighbourhoods, and everyday scenes, reflecting his interest in memory and Singapore’s changing urban landscape. (ISEAA)

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In 2006, Tan received Singapore’s Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts. Throughout his career, he has travelled widely for painting and has become known as one of Singapore’s prominent second-generation artists.