Full Article in Chinese

• Master of Business Administration
• Miniature artist

Life's journey is often unpredictable, and for Phyllis Poon, a traffic accident drastically changed her course. After enduring multiple surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation, the marketing professional found herself pausing her career. However, this unexpected turn led her to the world of miniature art, which opened new doors in her life. Utilising social media as a promotional tool, she embarked on an artistic journey that eventually blossomed into her own art business.

In the bustling environment of Hong Kong, the intricacy of miniature art holds special value. With a background in design, Phyllis has spent over four years immersed in this art form, transforming her business experience into creative energy. She has participated in numerous exhibitions and teaches workshops, sharing her passion for creation. "My inspiration comes from everyday life, like local delicacies such as cart noodles and fried dough sticks, which embody my love for this city," she says.

Phyllis reflects on her humble upbringing, recalling her early fascination with the artistry found in everyday life. Despite limited resources, she found joy in drawing on the ground with sticks when she was a child, which ultimately led her to a career in design after high school. "During my design studies, I gained experience through industry competitions, and winning awards helped build my confidence. A client later encouraged me to transition into marketing, leveraging my design background to help businesses establish their brand image."

Upon entering the marketing field, Phyllis quickly realised her limited understanding of the commercial landscape. She decided to pursue an MBA at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). "The programme covered various subjects, including finance and marketing. Balancing work and studies for two years was challenging, but it significantly advanced my career," she recalls. A particularly memorable experience was conducting a research project in Chengdu, where her group analysed real-world business cases and earned recognition for their work.

However, life took an unexpected turn when Phyllis was involved in a severe traffic accident, resulting in five surgeries and more than two years of recovery. During this challenging period, she was introduced to miniature art by her family. With her design background, she quickly developed the artistic skills and a sharp eye for detail. Through guidance from established miniature artists and extensive practice, she honed the art with exquisite craftmanship, and now frequently participates in exhibitions and teaches workshops.

Transitioning from the business world to art, Phyllis found her professional experience invaluable. Her marketing experience and the systematic thinking developed through MBA enabled her to promote her work effectively through social media, especially during the pandemic. Reflecting on her early teaching journey, she recalls a period when there was very limited interest from potential students. “To break through, I adjusted my strategy, designed diverse courses, and proactively engaged in outreach workshops for businesses and schools, areas where few artists had ventured into at that time,” she says. Gradually, she managed to establish a foothold in the miniature artworld.

To bring miniatures to life, Phyllis says the entire process from conceptualising to creation, requires extensive research and field studies. Every material and colour is meticulously selected too. For instance, in her recent artwork titled “Goldfish Shop”, she visited Goldfish Street in Mong Kok, and devoted over 12 hours a day for a month to creating more than 200 miniature goldfish, each under one centimeter in length. The enthusiastic response to her work made all her efforts worthwhile.

Crafting miniatures - a pastime that Phyllis began during her recovery in a difficult period – has since opened up many new opportunities for her. “It has opened a fresh chapter for me,” she says. “It hasn’t been a plain sailing. It requires a lot of practice, along with plenty of trial and errors. The magic about miniature art lies in capturing moments from everyday life and transforming them into artistic expressions that audiences can resonate with.”

（Published at 26 March 2026）