Shao Wenjin (1931) was born in Rongcheng, Shandong Province. He graduated from the Central Art Academy in 1953, and for many years, he was attached to the Tianjin Fine Arts Publishing House, both as an artist and as editor.

Shao was later attached to the Yangliuqing New Year Picture Publishing House, which continues the production of New Year pictures that Yangliuqing (杨柳青), in the vicinity of Tianjin, has traditionally been known for.