Raymond Leech was born at Great Yarmouth in East Angila and spent his childhood by the seaside.
He was influenced to take up an artistic career by his father, who taught him to draw.
In particular, he was inspired by the work of the Newlyn School, the french impressionists, Edgar Degas (1834-1917), Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901).