His family moved to Suzhou (蘇州), where Qiu Ying apprenticed as a lacquer artisan, painting decorations on lacquer-ware.

[1] He painted with the support a few of wealthy patrons, working in the residences of Chen Guan (d. after 1557) in Suzhou, Zhou Fenglai (1523–1555) in Kunshan, and Xiang Yuanbian (1525–1590) in Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province.

[2] With his special gift for copying paintings, Qiu Ying found favour among collectors, bringing him an opportunity to copy and learn from Song and Yuan dynasty paintings in the collections of the Jiangnan area and greatly broadening his artistic scope.

Qiu Ying was known for these erotic depictions, alongside Zhao Mengfu and Tang Yin.

[2] Qiu Ying best known original works are Harp player in a pavilion (located at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston) and The Emperor Guangwu Fording a River (National Gallery of Canada), and Dwellings of the Immortals - Jade Cave Fairy (The Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China).