Süleyman Saim Tekcan was born on October 6, 1940 in Trabzon. Tekcan, who received a bachelor's degree from Ankara Gazi Education Institute, Department of Art Education in 1961, went to Artvin Teacher Training School the same year as an instructor. After Artvin Teacher Training School, Tekcan, who served as reserve officer in Trabzon between 1962-63, was appointed to Erzurum Yavuz Selim Teacher Training School in 1964.
Later, Tekcan, who started working as an assistant principal at Işık High School, bid farewell to cinema after a short stint in the field after taking on one of the main roles in Metin Erksan's cult film, Time to Love. After returning to Trabzon, he started teaching at Trabzon Teacher Training School (1966-68). During this period, Tekcan founded the Gülbahar Kindergarten, the first private education institution in Trabzon. He carried out the management responsibilities of the institution until he relocated to Istanbul with his wife, Emel Tekcan.
Tekcan, who worked as an educator at Istanbul Atatürk Education Institute between 1968 and 1975, established the school’s first printmaking, lithography, serigraphy and etching studios. Tekcan was also instrumental in the realization of etching and serigraphy studios in institutions throughout Anatolia.
He established original printmaking studios at Istanbul Technical University between 1974 and 1975, and conducted relevant trainings there. Also in 1974, Tekcan established his first printmaking studio in Kuyubaşı, and became an instructor at the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts between 1975 and 1976. At this institution, which was renamed the Mimar Sinan University Faculty of Fine Arts during the 1975-1976 academic year, he began to work as an instructor, while at the same time establishing a screen-printing studio in its Graphic Department. Tekcan, who moved the studio from Kuyubaşı to Söğütlüçeşme in June 1977, simultaneously started to take part in international biennials and triennials in the field of printmaking.
The foundation of recognition as one of the experts in his field both at home and internationally, was laid at this time.