Dino Dante K. Pajao was born and raised in Maasin City, Southern Leyte Philippines.  He’s an architect by profession.  He lived in Singapore and worked in international landscape and design firms in the past 12 years. 

His exposure to art started in childhood with his uncle who then led an architecture design firm.  Dino would recall visiting his office for a drawing session with him.  Painting came in as a slow progression but has given him wider opportunities to explore and find his voice in the arts.  He got serious about it in college.  It began in his visual tech class where he developed a deeper appreciation for drawing and colors – watercolor in particular.  He started gaining recognition in the local arts scene in Philippines when he won grand prize for a prestigious annual painting contest in Cebu in his college days.   

Dino pursued painting while in Singapore.  He’s the first Filipino to have been accepted to the Singapore Watercolor Society (SWS).  He participated their annual exhibitions both locally and across countries.  

Highlights of his journey as an artist in Singapore includes having been selected as one of the 50 artists to paint historical landmarks and Singapore Port in conjunction with SG50 – a celebration of Singapore’s 50th Anniversary as a nation.

His breakthrough in the international watercolor community was when his piece “Crossover” got selected in the Northwest Watercolor Society’s (NWWS) 75th International Open Juried Exhibition in Seattle Washington USA in 2015.  In September last year, Dino participated the by invitational 2018 Fifth Silk Road International Arts Festival in Xi’an City China.  Dino believes “that art is natural and around us - available to everyone always any time.  It may seem elusive but will never leave”.  He’s a DANIEL SMITH brand ambassador.