Serge Ernst studied at the École Supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc in Liège, where he studied graphics, engraving and advertising. He worked as a teacher in illustration at the institute afterwards. He entered the comics and cartooning field with the help of François Walthéry and Didier Comès. He joined the magazine Tintin in 1975 where he soon made his mark with his 'Clins d'Oeil'.