Wei Chuanyi (1928) is from Daxian, Sichuan Province. After his graduation in 1952 from the Sichuan Provincial Art School, he took up teaching. In 1955, he participated in the Oil Painting Study Group organized by the Soviet painter Konstantin Maksimov at the Central Art Academy. After his graduation in 1957, he joined the faculty at the Sichuan Art Academy, where he headed the Oil Painting Research Office; he later became associate professor. Most recently, Wei was head of and professor in the Art Education Institute of Xiamen University.

Wei's oil paintings are included in various national collections.