 Suthep Wongkamhaeng was born on 12 May 1934, in Sung Noen District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province.He lived in an extended family, his father having abandoned them before he was born.He attended school at Marie Vithaya, Wat Samo Rai, and Sikhiu Sawadphadungwitthaya schools in Nakhon Ratchasima, before undertaking vocational training in visual arts at the Poh Chang School of Arts in Bangkok, graduating in 1950.