Tew Nai Tong graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore in 1958 under the tutelage of renowned Nanyang art pioneers like Georgette Chen and Chen Wen Hsi. He then studied oil painting and figurative art at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France in 1967 - 1968, where he was exposed to diverse influences and inspirations from the Parisian school of arts.

Tew held solo shows at the British Council, Kuala Lumpur (1964), National Library Singapore (1978), Sarawak Museum, Kuching (1987), Shenn’s Fine Art Gallery, Singapore (1994), Art Salon, Kuala Lumpur (1999), Sunjin Gallery, Singapore (2001), City Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2003), Balai Berita, The New Straits Times Press (2004), Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery, Singapore (2008), and KL Lifestyle Art Space (2012). His retrospective exhibition – “Odyssey” was held at the National Art Gallery in 2007, while his solo – “Nanyang Impressions” was held at Loh Gallery, Shanghai, China (2012). 

Tew’s paintings were exhibited across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, Seoul (South Korea), Osaka (Japan) and Bangkok. In 2009, Tew was awarded the ‘Asia Art Award’ in Seoul. His works were auctioned at Sotheby’s and Bonhams, and collected by the National Art Gallery Malaysia and National Art Museum Singapore.