Ray Leaning was born in Lincolnshire in November 1959. As a teenager he fell in love with rock music, motorbikes, girls and comic book art. After a varied early career, Leaning was accepted as a mature student at Exeter College of Art. He graduated in Fine Art Painting in 1984. After a brief period teaching art, he began working as a graphic designer in the field of illustrated publishing in Soho.Nineteen years on, Ray now lives in Brighton with Carol, several offspring and a '76 Bonneville. He has at last found time and space for his first love - painting sexy ladies.