Prem Nayar was born in a reputed family of Lahore on December 16, 1932. After completing basic education, he did a course in Fine Arts from School of Art, Delhi Polytechnic, Delhi, in 1955. Later, he worked as the head of the Technical Division, Trade Fairs, ITPO, and for some time he had to discontinue his passion for painting. However, having retired from active service in 2012, he has taken up painting with renewed enthusiasm.