About Michael Leek

Michael Leek MA MPhil(RCA) FRSA
Michael, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, has long had an interest in the design and development of military aircraft. Through a successful career in art and design education, including leading one of the UK’s most successful illustration schools at what is now the Arts University Bournemouth, he designed and managed a number of aviation-related projects for the former RAF Vulcan Display Team, the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the Imperial War Museum (Duxford), the Science Museum and with a number of other organisations. Long before UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) became common place, some of his students, as part of a work experience programme, produced illustrations of early design prototypes.
Taking up digital photography as an amateur in 2005 Michael has progressed from a basic point-and-shoot to a full-frame DSLR camera, along with other bodies, numerous lenses and supporting accessories. Practice and experience led him to write the very first book to be published anywhere on military low flying photography (Military Low Flying in the UK – The Skill of Pilots and Photographers). This was in 2012. Since then he has published or is working towards a trilogy of books based on his digital aviation photography. The first in this mini series, The British Aerospace Hawk – A Photographic Tribute, was published in October 2014. The second, The Panavia Tornado – A Photographic Tribute, was published in November 2015, and the final book, The British Aerospace Harrier – A Photographic Tribute, will be published in 2016. All of Michael’s aviation photography books have been published by Pen and Sword Books.
Michael Leek is a member of the Royal United Services Institute, the Society for Nautical Research and the Navy Records Society. He served briefly in a civilian volunteer sea-going capacity with the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS) until it was disbanded following the end of the Cold War. He has written and contributed to other books relating to art history and illustration practice.