Originally from Cardiff, Wales, Martin achieved a BA Hons from the Birmingham College of art followed by an MA from the Chelsea College of Art before coming to settle in West Cork. By adopting a technique that fuses elements of the expressionist and impressionist colour, standpoint and painterly qualities he strives to recreate the life, people and landscape of the West of Ireland in his work. Martin says, of his approach to painting, " I value the importance of passion, intuition and spontaneity which I temper with discipline".

Martins work has been exhibited widely throughout Ireland and forms part of many public and private collections both national and international.