Oil painting Study of Casino Interior by Konstantin Bessmertny. [Photo/China Daily]

Macao's artists and designers may have the advantage of public support, but many of them miss the good old days of working quietly in their studio.

"The contemporary visual art scene was much richer 15 years ago," says Macao-based Russian artist Konstantin Bessmertny. "Artistically, it was better than Hong Kong in those days. The city's cultural scene has since lost its Mediterranean charm and is now more international."

Russian artist Konstantin Bessmertny. [Gary Mak / for China Daily]

Jewelry designer Dora Tam. [Provided to China Daily]

Bessmertny is one of the city's most respected painters, and has made Macao his home for the past 20 years.

He was inspired by the city when he first arrived for an exhibition: "it's the first place in Asia where East meets West happened. The first Europeans who came to Asia settled in Macao."

He bemoans Macao's recent changes and feels that the art scene is suffering at the expense of other cultural developments.

He recommends "reincarnating the intentional art biennale, start a contemporary art museum and collections, improve the music festival to the level of ones in Europe. And everything that relates to historical heritage should be carefully guarded."

Jewelry designer Dora Tam moved to Macao more than a decade ago as her husband is Macao people. Originally from Hong Kong, the award-winning designer worked for Hong Kong jeweler Tse Sui Luen before venturing out in 2001 to establish Dora Tam Design.

Though she misses the bucolic lifestyle of old Macao, she feels that her adopted home's recent worldliness is a good thing.

"It has really opened up and become more international after the handover," says Tam from her office and studio overlooking the historic post office near Leal Senado.

"Before, it was just mainly Chinese and Portuguese cultural performances. I'm very happy to see the recent changes, including how the city's heritage is helping to put it on the world map as a place to visit."

She still feels that Macao's unique blend of culture is what makes the city special. "We really can't find another place with this East meets Europe vibe."