Narayanan received a diploma in painting from the Government Art College, Chennai. He has been the recipient of the Indian Government Scholarship (1962-64), the French Government Scholarship (1967-70) and the Lalit Kala Akademi Award (1963,1965,1966) Narayanan's solo shows have been held at Chateau de Talcy, France (1995), Kabutoya Gallery, Japan (1994), Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata (1990), La Marge Gallery, France (1992 & 1988), Hennemann Gallery, Germany (1974), Max Mueller Bhavan, Goethe Institute, Chennai (1965), Transposition Gallery, France (1970) among others. He has also been featured in prominent group exhibitions in India, France, Phillipines, Austria, Korea and Japan.

Narayanan lives and works in Paris.