Sylvia Van Strijthem was born in Belgium in 1964. She graduated from Ghent State University in 1987 with a B.A. in Art History and Archaeology, with emphasis on African art. Her interest in art history and languages took her first to Bayreuth in Germany where she studied Swahili and subsequently to England. In 1990 she graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies (London University) with a Masters in Area Studies, majoring in African art with minors in Swahili and African writing in English.

After earning a postgraduate degree in the information field in 1993, Sylvia worked at the Kent Institute of Art and Design in Canterbury. In 1995 she moved with her husband to Hong Kong where she worked till 2003 in a diplomatic mission.

During her stay in Hong Kong Sylvia developed a keen interest in practicing Chinese brush painting through the teaching of Poon Siu-han (Patti Poon).

At her return to England a chance visit to an exhibition of Chinese brush painting by a local art group became pivotal in taking up Chinese brush painting in England. Today Sylvia continues her journey in learning the art of the Chinese brush.

She lives in England with her husband and daughter.