Zhou Butian (1950) is from Dingxiang, Shanxi Province. Before he joined the People's Liberation Army in 1969, he took art classes and worked in the local cultural centre. In the Navy, he served in the East China Sea Naval Task Force. From 1984-1986, he took a refresher course in the Oil Painting Department of the Zhejiang Art Academy. He became a member of the Propaganda Section of the Political Department of the East China Sea Naval Task Force.

Zhou's oil paintings have received awards and have been included in national collections. He cooperated with Zhang Dawei.