Zehra Semra Yalçınkaya was born in Istanbul in 1948. She is a graduate of Istanbul University Faculty of Economics. Yalçınkaya took marbling classes from Hikmet Barutçugil at Caferağa Madrassah, illumination classes at Istanbul University Medical History and Deontology Department Prof. Süheyl Ünver Workshop in 2005, miniature classes from Taner Alakuş at the National Palaces in 2006. She studied with Taner Alakuş also at İSMEK, and continues her studies with Alakuş. Yalçınkara participated in many group exhibitions both at home and abroad, and held two personal exhibitions.