Wei Yang (1928-2017) was born in Wuhan, Hubei Province. He started his studies at the Hubei Educational Institute in 1949, and after his graduation he taught at a number of schools and academies. In 1962, he took a refresher course in oil painting at the Central Art Academy, and in 1964, he was attached to the Hubei Art Academy, where he now acts in the capacity of adviser.

Wei originally specialized in oil painting and woodcuts, but in his later years he became proficient in Chinese painting, including landscapes. He painted the poster that was published to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Mao Zedong's famous swim in the Yangzi River in 1966.