With six siblings and one motorbike, every family outing was an adventure. “Every trip took two rounds,” Azman, 39, said with a grin. “My father would drop one batch off, then come back for the rest.”
But the most unforgettable journeys were to his father’s oil palm plantation.
“The roads weren’t paved, just dirt and mud. If the bike got stuck, we all had to get off and push,” he recalled. “That’s what I remember most … pushing together, laughing together.”
Perhaps that’s why, as a self-taught watercolour artist, he doesn’t paint sleek, showroom-ready motorcycles. He paints rusted, well-worn ones – the bikes with peeling paint, dented fenders, and stories etched into their frames. “They hold history,” he said. “They carry memories, just like my father’s old C70.”
Motorbikes remain central to Azman’s work, stirring nostalgia in buyers. “People tell me, ‘My dad had a bike just like that.’”
Over time, he expanded his canvas, blending bikes with batik patterns, kebaya motifs, even vintage TVs. Nearly 30 of his paintings now hang at Seri Perdana, the prime minister’s residence.
“Whenever I see them in a clip, I quickly screenshot it as a keepsake,” Azman chuckled. Interestingly, he didn’t start out as a watercolour artist – he didn’t even dare touch watercolours at first.
By day, Azman is a full-time senior science officer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). But art has always been a part of him.
At seven, he was already drawing, inspired by his older brother, who was naturally talented. Determined to improve, Azman studied his brother’s work, mimicked it, then added his own flair to it.
By Standard Five, his talent had surpassed that of his older brother’s. In secondary school, he leaned into technical drawing, becoming so good at it that even his teachers instructed him to guide his classmates.
But like a sketch left unfinished, he never fully pursued art – until his wife, a schoolteacher, asked for help with a class project. “She’s the one who really got me started. Before that, I never dared to touch watercolours. I was afraid I’d ruin my sketches. But after helping her, I started exploring colours seriously,” he said.
With each brushstroke, his confidence grew. But he wanted more than a hobby – he wanted a challenge.
“I set a benchmark for myself: was I doing this just for fun, or did I want to take it far?” By 2014, he had his answer. He applied to hold a solo exhibition at UKM.
With no sponsors, he withdrew RM15,000 from his EPF savings, betting on himself. He even invited then Minister of Education II, Idris Jusoh, to officiate. To his surprise, the minister agreed – but Azman had just 10 months to prepare.
He worked tirelessly, producing 55 artworks. His efforts paid off, both artistically and financially. “I sold enough pieces to break even,” he said.
That moment changed everything. Today, he has over 30 exhibitions under his belt.
Azman particularly enjoys the outdoor aspect of being a watercolourist. He practises plein air painting, a French expression meaning to paint in the open air, and capturing scenes in real time.
“There’s a strong sense of camaraderie among us because of this shared experience,” he said of his bond with other watercolour artists.
This approach has taken him beyond Malaysia. He has painted in Bangkok, Vietnam, and Bali, each place offering its own inspiration.
Despite his growing success, Azman still splits his time between his family home in Besut, Terengganu and Kajang in Selangor, where he stays alone during the workweek.
Looking ahead, Azman has big plans. He hopes to organise a large-scale plein air event in Besut, bringing artists together for a painting competition, discussions, and classes – especially for East Coast creatives.
Beyond that, his ultimate dream is to open a public gallery. “I have a small gallery in Besut, but it’s not open to visitors yet. One day, I want a space where people can experience watercolour art up close.”
And just like those early rides on his father’s C70, he knows the road ahead will be full of adventure.
Find out more about Azman Nor here or follow him on Instagram.