Mike Leaf was born in London in 1934, and spent his youth wandering through north and central Africa, before settling in Israel in 1954. After holding a vast range of unconventional jobs, he settled down to full-time painting in 1968. Since then he has participated in many group exhibitions and private shows in USA, Canada, Mexico, Israel and England.

For many years he searched for a means of expression which would reflect his surroundings and be relevant to the times. On a 6-month working trip to Mexico and Guatemala in 1981, he was much influenced by primitive wooden sculptures found in the churches. Returning home, he began experimenting with various materials and developed a mixed media based on papier maché. His knowledge of colour and form gained after years of oil painting and lino and wood-cut printing was used in colouring the finished pieces. In 1996, he spent some months in Bali, living in a small village of weed carvers, where he worked with local craftsmen learning traditional carving techniques. Besides sculpting he continues to paint and produce lino, wood and silk screen prints.