Fatu was born in Poutasi, Western Samoa in 1946, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1966. He became a full-time painter in 1988.

Feu'u is a multi media artist and while primarily a painter, he explores a range of other mediums including bronze, wood and stone sculpture, pottery design, lithographs, woodcuts, glass works (both stained and etched) as well as carpet designs. Through these different mediums he often utilizes the same motifs.

Feu'u gains inspiration from Polynesian art forms such as siapo (bark cloth), tatau (tattooing), weaving, carving and ceremonial mask making. In these forms, Feu'u has discovered a rich lexicon of motifs and compositional structures. Feu'u's works frequently blend traditional and contemporary elements, and incorporate a range of influences, inspirations, techniques and motifs from Samoa and Aotearoa/New Zealand and more generally from Euro-American to Pacific cultures.

Fatu has held many positions as Artist in Residence (Elam School of Fine Arts 1988, St Paul's College 1991, Manukau Polytechnic 1995, University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre for Peace Studies 1996), and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts in 1997 from Elam School, Auckland University.

Feu'u has established an international reputation as the 'father' of Pacific Island art in New Zealand. He has had many solo and group exhibitions, and also won several art awards. His works are held in many public and private collections in New Zealand and throughout the world.