Among Fan’s most celebrated works is his Lotus Series. Rather than merely painting the flower from life, Fan studies its form and essence, personifying its imagery. By merging the traditions of Chinese ink and colour with Western oil techniques, he creates a harmonious blend of East and West. These paintings reflect not only his emotional connection to Nanyang life and Singapore but also his reflections on—and emotional responses to—everyday moments.

Fan’s portraiture is equally acclaimed. Singapore’s multicultural society and unique human landscape have provided him with a wealth of inspiration. Through his portrayals of people across different walks of life, he captures the emotional threads of urban existence.

In 1994, he painted one of the earliest portraits of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, making him among the first artists to immortalise Lee’s image on canvas. Two decades later, in 2014, he was invited again to create a new portrait—this time with a greater maturity and a subtly freer hand, balancing strength and delicacy to convey the nation’s enduring respect for its founding leader.