About Michael Leek
Born in London, Michael trained as an illustrator at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design. On graduation he went into professional practice, working as an illustrator for publishing houses, advertising agencies, Ford Motors, the aircraft industries (in The Netherlands and Germany), and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
He then went into art and design education at the Arts University College Bournemouth, where he became Head of the School of Illustration. After Bournemouth he became Director of Studies at the former Cordwainers College. He has also held other senior posts in art and design, including five years at a university in Sweden, where he was a visiting lecturer and project manager. Michael has also worked with design institutions and with the creative industries in a number of other EU countries. He left visual arts and design education in 2008 to pursue his own work.
Michael completed teacher training at Bournemouth University, an MA in Visual Arts Practice and Management at Middlesex University and an MPhil in The History and Development of Information Illustration at the Royal College of Art (the only wholly postgraduate university of art and design in the world). He is a Life-Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of a number of historical societies.
Relocating to Banffshire, on the Moray Firth, in June 2009, Michael's time is now divided between photography, drawing, writing and editing. Whilst the photos on this site may suggest otherwise, Michael's real passion is the study of the development of the sailing ship.
Michael's photographs have been published in;
Press & Journal newspaper
Northern Scot newspaper
Practical Photography
Fishing News
Air Forces Monthly
RAF News
Filght International
Aircraft Illustrated
Aviation in Action 2010 calendar
He has also been twice Featured Photographer with Flight Global and he's been a runner-up in the Action category of the Photographer of the Year competition run by Practical Photography
Michael is the author of The Art of Nautical Illustration and The Encyclopedia of Airbrush Techniques, and is currently, November 2010, working on a third (due to be published in September 2011). He is also part-author of The New Guide to Illustration and has contributed to many other books.
He then went into art and design education at the Arts University College Bournemouth, where he became Head of the School of Illustration. After Bournemouth he became Director of Studies at the former Cordwainers College. He has also held other senior posts in art and design, including five years at a university in Sweden, where he was a visiting lecturer and project manager. Michael has also worked with design institutions and with the creative industries in a number of other EU countries. He left visual arts and design education in 2008 to pursue his own work.
Michael completed teacher training at Bournemouth University, an MA in Visual Arts Practice and Management at Middlesex University and an MPhil in The History and Development of Information Illustration at the Royal College of Art (the only wholly postgraduate university of art and design in the world). He is a Life-Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of a number of historical societies.
Relocating to Banffshire, on the Moray Firth, in June 2009, Michael's time is now divided between photography, drawing, writing and editing. Whilst the photos on this site may suggest otherwise, Michael's real passion is the study of the development of the sailing ship.
Michael's photographs have been published in;
Press & Journal newspaper
Northern Scot newspaper
Practical Photography
Fishing News
Air Forces Monthly
RAF News
Filght International
Aircraft Illustrated
Aviation in Action 2010 calendar
He has also been twice Featured Photographer with Flight Global and he's been a runner-up in the Action category of the Photographer of the Year competition run by Practical Photography
Michael is the author of The Art of Nautical Illustration and The Encyclopedia of Airbrush Techniques, and is currently, November 2010, working on a third (due to be published in September 2011). He is also part-author of The New Guide to Illustration and has contributed to many other books.