Famous for his naïve paintings and books on cats Martin Leman was born in London in 1934, the son of a Covent Garden fruit porter. Martin Leman studied at Worthing School of Art and later at London's Central School of Art. He later worked as a designer, illustrator and typographer in advertising and publishing for several years. In the early 60's Martin Leman turned to painting as his main occupation. A turning point in his career was a painting of a small tabby cat situated in a decorative interior. It sold immediately and so begun his long association with cats. He is also well known for his often humorous paintings of the female form and American folk art styled paintings. Martin Leman has exhibited internationally, and is a regular exhibitor at London's Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. His lifelong love of cats has become widely appreciated through reproductions in over twenty books devoted to his art. His paintings now form part of private collections throughout the world. He has also painted many commissioned portraits of much loved cats which now hang in homes in the UK, America, Europe, Japan & Australia. Other favourite subjects include female nudes and still lifes amd more recently landscapes and gardens.