Boats, Pier and Shops 小艇、碼頭與店舖

A quick sketch in the warm winter sun

On the ground floor on the left: a shop space is converted into an extra dining room of a nearby seafood restaurant.

The second shop from the left:  "The Reading Room", a newly-open local bookshop, selling old and new books as well as hosting reading activities.

I was sitting on a pier extended into the harbour.  You can see boats casually docking next to the pier.

Old Temple Square @ Yau Ma Tei 油麻地 天后廟

This Tin Hau (Goddess of the Sea) Temple, similar to many others in Hong Kong, was once fronting the sea, however as Hong Kong developed, it's now surrounded by buildings.  The temple square is shaded by large Banyan trees with their aerial roots hanging down everywhere. These trees provide a nice shaded place for local worshippers and oversea tourists to gather here every day. 

Christmas Meets Fantasy! From Hong Kong

This one isn't a real urban sketch or drawing, but the street scene is based on photos I took in the Sai Ying Poon area over the Hong Kong side.  I added the bank of China tower as backdrop as well.   

Wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Fish for Sale? 邊道有魚?

The sketch was done a few years ago.  This nice little wooden fish market was demolished finally and is now replaced by a new concrete one.  The fish market is normally empty during daytime as the fishermen only come here to sell their catch before day break.

Location: See Cheung Street, Sai Kung Town, Hong Kong

High Rises and Chinese Temple 三山國王與麗晶花園

Richland Garden High Rises across Kwun Tong Road 麗晶花園

A sketch done on a terraced public park, with the very dense Richland Garden residential high-rises across Kwun Tong Road. Hong Kong

Chinese Tempe in front of public housing high rises 三山國王廟 坪石邨

The "Saam Saan King Temple" , 三山國王廟 is dedicated to three "kings" or "legendary figures" who are worshipped in Southern China for centuries. This very temple was bulilt in 1800 an was facing the sea. However, with the now closed old Kai Tak airport which was developed during World War II, the temple has become an inland temple for decades. Behind the temple is three housing blocks of Ping Shek Estate, a public housing project which has been around for four decades.

Note: The tower on the left is used for burning incense for the "kings"

Sketches from Europe Trip Part 2

After walking around Delfshaven in cold rain in Rotterdam, we decided to have a cup of hot chocolate.  This sketch was done while everyone was feeling still cold, wet and waiting for their cups of chocolate,


Location: Cafe Soif, Mathenesserdijk, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Concert Cebouw Amsterdam


While waiting for a tram, a very quick sketch depicting the concert hall at Van Baealestraat just across the road.

At the top of the Glass Elephant Tower


The sketch was done at the top of the Glass Elephant at Maximilian Park, Hamm.  The elephant was originally a coal mine structure but was turned into a giant elephant with a green house by architect Horst Rellecke.  At the top inside the green house, I had excellent view of the autumn colours of the city of Hamm.

A quick sketch depicting an alley at Museumpark, Rotterdam

Sketches from Europe Trip Part 1

Went to Netherlands, Belgium and Germany for 11 days for a study trip, focusing on landscape elements , along the way, I did a number of quick sketches.

KNSM Island waterfront, Amsterdam

Not completely sure I'm right with the location. I cycled to this place and settled on the wood deck to sketch. The whole waterfront is lined with nice boats and residential blocks.

Apeldoorn, Netherlands

After visiting the Het Loo Palace at Apeldoorn, we walked along one of the streets and had a quick lunch at a local eatery, along the way I did this sketch.

Breidelstraat overlooking Belfort, Bruges, Belgium

This is the street that connects the smaller square with the larger square "Markt". The tower is the Belfort which was built in the 18th century.

Beguinage of Bruges, Belgium

The Beguinage of Bruges was founded in 1245. The central courtyard, at the time of our visit was filled with autumn colours as all the trees have already turned yellowish brown and red. Interestingly, their branches all tilted to one side in the wind. The sounds the leaves made were soothing.

Chinese Banyan Trees at Park Lane, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong 彌敦道與細葉榕

The majestic Chinese Banyan Trees framing this section of Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui! The sculptural forms of their trunks and branches and their plentiful aerial roots are always great to look at! I was at the time sitting on the second floor of a McDonalds Restaurant, having a Cheeseburger and was immediately captivated by the canopies of these trees!

View from my Studio at Knowles Building. 鈕魯詩樓外望

View from our Studio at Knowles Building, the University of Hong Kong. 鈕魯詩樓外望. This view is going to be our companion for many days and nights to come!


Hard Fact: Knowles Buidling is built on a slope and yet the buildings out there are all built lower down slope, rising all the way up blocking my view to the harbour and mountains beyond.

Street Market at Poplar Street

Street Market at Poplar Street, Prince Edward (Sham Shui Po), Hong Kong

Two recent sketches

The left one was done at Sau Wa Fong, a quiet alley in the otherwise very busy Wan Chai district.  The sketch on the right is done at Poplar Street, Prince Edward, in front of a street egg seller.  The irregular street stalls there are always interesting to look at.

Hong Kong Park and Aviary

Sketched at the top of the observation tower at Hong Kong Park

Mong Kok Cityscape 朗豪坊

Drawn on a podium on the fourth floor of Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong. It was like a little haven in the otherwise very crowded and noisy Mongkok. It was a great sketching day too as two other sketchers also joined the party:)

What a Steep Road!

Old Bailey Street, Mid-Levels, Central, Hong Kong

One the left is part of the Old Central Police Station Compound. The Mid-Levels are full of such very steep roads. Because of the steep gradient, the sidewalk on the right is made up of several flights of small steps.

朗豪坊外望 Crowded Cityscape viewed from 7th Floor Langham Place

7th floor of Langham Place. Wonderful view of the typical Mong Kok cityscape, filled with old and new buildings of various sizes and shapes. It's great place to observe the rolling summer clouds too!

Two Sketches

A quick quick sketch of a corner of Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay. Did this while waiting on a minibus to Sai Kung.


I found a little bit of time at Hong Kong Park this evening. Sat down and sketched this. The mid-level high-rises are always fascinating, visually flanking Hong Kong Park.

Sri Lankan Restaurant, Sai Kung

The only Sri Lankan restaurant in Hong Kong, which is located in a quiet alley in Sai Kung Old Town. The sketch was done in the evening and it was difficult as I had to fend off the mosquitoes while sketching. They were so hungry that even my bug repellent didn't work!

"Lo Baan" Temple 魯班廟

A quick sketch at "Lo Baan" Temple, Ching Lin Terrace, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong

"Lo Baan" is worshipped as a protector god of all construction workers and architects in the Chinese world. What I like most of this temple is the interesting roof design.

Masonry Wall Trees at Forbes Street, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong

Wall trees are considered a unique cultural heritage in Hong Kong. They sprouted naturally on masonry walls built before the Second World War. Many of them are now mature trees that have roots wrapping up old masonry walls in many parts of Hong Kong Island. The Forbes Street wall trees is the largest and most majestic group in Hong Kong!

Local Colours 本．色 Paintings and Sketches by Gary Yeung

Thanks again for those who have come to the opening reception.
If you have time, do come up to the JMStyle Furniture & Gallery at Star House, Tsim Sha Tsui.
The exhibition will continue until 30 September.

Quick Sketch at Tao Painting Gallery

My Upcoming Exhibition

Have been busy preparing for my up coming exhibition. Hope you could come and enjoy my paintings and sketches!

Sketch Project Preview 2: Ironware Maker

Ironware Maker, a profession that is almost gone.

Location: Sai Kung. An icon in Sai Kung Old Town. He is in his nineties already.

Sketching Central 畫中環

The historical building is now the legislative council of Hong Kong, Formerly, the Supreme Court. It was built about one hundred years ago. The three buildings behind are the Bank of China Tower on the left, the Cheung Kong Centre in the middle and the old Bank of China Tower on the right.

Two Quick Sketches at Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

A towering residential block as seen from Kowloon Park, Hong Kong


Watching and Feeding Pigeons

Painting in Progress

This is the second painting depicting children from the fifties in Hong Kong. Life was much harder then, though not necessarily unhappy.

Afternoon Gathering

Sai Kung Town Square 3:30pm

Saturday Street Scene at Sai Kung Old Town

See Cheung Street, a main street at Sai Kung Old Town, is bustling with visitors on Saturdays. Such low density, spontaneous cityscape is getting rare in Hong Kong as many streets with old low rises are gradually pulled down for high density development.

Panda Cafe, Sai Kung Old Town

Panda Cafe, Sai Kung, Nice restaurant framed by two carefully planted shrubs, Bougainvillea glabra and Duranta repens

西貢熊貓餐廳及門前栽種的勒杜鵑同金蓮翹

Hung Kee Seafood Restaurant, Sai Kung Town

Hung Kee Seafood Restaurant is one the many seafood restaurants along the seafront promenade of Sai Kung Town, Hong Kong. Guess what are those things placed on the pavement.

Dundas Street, Mong Kok at night!

I sat inside the Dundas Street Sitting-Out Area and spent 20 minutes to finish this sketch. The time was 9:20p.m. and Mong Kok was vibrant and crowded with people as usual. However, the sitting-out area / pocket park that I was in was very much underused. I think the gates dividing the street and the park should be removed, otherwise very few will come in.

Looking out in Midnight Hours!

Quick Sketches at the University of Hong Kong

Quick Sketch on a slope next to the lotus pond behind Knowles Building, The University of Hong Kong



Everyone was busy writing the History paper. Location: The University of Hong Kong

Sketches of Shun Kee and Sai Kung Old Town 順之城 與 西貢舊墟

Quick Sketches! Hope I can make it a habit to draw at least a few every week!
Scene from Sai Kung Old Town



Sai Kung Shun Kee Homeware Shop. Sai Kung Town


This is Sai Kung Old Town Waterfront

Central Market Mural 舊中環街市牆畫: 城中綠洲 Updated 6 March 2010

It's been a lot of fun painting the murals and jamming art with a group of very talented friends. Thanks, Sindy, Steve, Terence, Jamaika and Jacmila!