While living in Hong Kong, Chou began to learn painting formally in 1954 when she became a student of Zhao Shao’ang, a master of the traditional Lingnan school of painting. In the late 1960s, Chou met the modern artist Lui Shou-Kwan who introduced western art concepts such as abstract expressionism in his ink paintings. His progressive theories on art and ink painting inspired her to move away from the popular Lingnan style and experiment with different techniques and various types of paint, including oil, acrylic and watercolor. [2]
Ms. Chou is also mentioned as a benefactor of sorts for the Hong Kong Museum of Art. While living in Australia for health reasons she made a painting to be donated to the Hong Kong Museum of Art on their 50th Anniversary this year. The painting was one she did in 2006 and she decided that she wanted the museum to have it for this occasion. I am not sure how, but she put it in a ‘trust fund’ to be given to the museum at the time of their 50th this year. Ms. Chou died last year and the gift was an unexpected treasure from an artist that will be long remembered in China and Hong Kong. They have this tribute to Ms. Chou in the exhibit for the anniversary and I was very touched by the artist’s forward thinking about the upcoming event and the museums thoughtfulness in putting this work of art in the exhibit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_Chou