Eric Jiani was born on September 14th 1957 in London, UK.  Despite being diagnosed with  borderline autism as a child, Eric was given a 'normal' education at the British School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Downside Abbey in the UK. Eric lived in both countries, his mother being Brazilian and his father English.  Eric is therefore fluent in both Portuguese and English.

Artistically inclined from an early age, Eric is self-taught and it was not until 1978 that he committed himself full-time to his art. In Brazil, Eric spent some years living on the edge of jungle;  whilst in England he has taken on various  jobs such as kitchen porter in a bakery, assistant in a shoe shop, English language teacher (private pupils), Art Teacher
(book illustration) and currently is a Music Sessions Worker. Eric also plays his own compositions on the guitar and writes.

Eric describes himself as a self-taught artist and says that his work is semi- autobiographical.