Born in Kyauk Taw in the Rakhine States, Myanmar, Shwe Thein graduated from the State School of Fine Arts.

His command of colour and intuitive strokes, mostly applied with a palette knife, creates vivid paintings which capture the half- fanciful realities of imagination and perception.

His first series of paintings was of downtown Yangon and later he visited his hometown regularly to capture images of local fishing boats with their traditional sails which are created by sewing together a variety of materials, such as fabric from discarded umbrellas.

He has exhibited numerous times since graduation in 2004.