Born in Chiang Rai (1939-2014, Thailand), Thawan began his artistic education at the Poh Chang Arts and Crafts College. He then went on to study under the famous Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci (Silpha Bhilasri) at Silpakorn University. Following further studies at Amsterdam’s Royal Academy of Visual Arts, Thawan returned to Thailand and began to gain recognition for his unique style of red/white and black toned paintings. Though his rather dark and ominous works proved to be initially shocking to conservative Buddhists, his exhibitions went on to receive high regard throughout Thailand and overseas. With an extensive list of overseas exhibitions and commissioned murals, including the Bank of Thailand, Doi Tung Palace among others, Thawan became one of the most prominent Thai artists in the world.