About Us

In 1947, Mr. Tay Long, a first-generation Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) student, did sign painting for a living. During this point of time, paints were not as readily available to the general populace, much less a sign painter such as himself. Thus, he started the graphic art store Straits Commercial Art Company to provide graphic art supplies for painters like himself or others in a similar situation of need. 

This little shop located on Stamford Road near the National Library eventually became a staple for every art student in the country, being the first fine arts material shop to be set up in Singapore. In no time at all, the art store became a necessary existence to aspiring artists, full time artists and even collectors. Eventually, the second floor of the shop was even converted to display many local works of art from artists which include the famous first-generation artists such as Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi to name a few.

Fast forward to the 1990s, due to a government eviction, Straits Commercial Art Company changed its location to 420 North Bridge Road, #01-27 North Bridge Centre, Bugis, Singapore 188727 where it stays to the present. By a twist of fate, the National Library also moved from its old location of 91 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178896 to situate itself across the road in 2005.  In 2007 as a result of the shift of demand from graphic design or what we would otherwise call a change of the times, the management at Straits Commercial Art Company: the eldest son Tay Nam Seng, second son Tay Cheng San, and his wife HH Wong decided to change the direction of the art store to service the Fine Arts. This was reflected in its change of name to Straits Art Co. Pte Ltd. Straits as a newly minted art store had to change its stock of items from Letraset, Rotring Pens and Plaka Paint to acrylic paint, watercolor and oil colors among other things.