Lee MacLeod was born in Los Angeles, California in 1953. He attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1976. He began studying at The Art Center College Of Design in Pasadena California in 1977. He completed his course work in 1980 and began his art career as an illustrator.

Lee MacLeod currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife and two daughters. Since moving to Santa Fe in 1993, Lee has become interested in fine art, in particular plein air painting. Over the years, he has taken workshops with Matt Smith, Michael Situ, Michael Lynch, Ned Jacob and Craig Nelson. He also painted extensively with Doug Higgins. Lee is a member of OPA, PAPNM, PAAC, and the California Art Club and has been juried in to the latter's Gold Medal show every year since being accepted as a member. He had two pieces accepted into The Bennington Center For The Arts' exhibit "California's Landscapes and Legacy" in 2009. Lee was invited to participate in the Torrey Pines Plein Air Invitational in La Jolla, California in 2008. He won a bronze medal in the National Paint The Forests Competition in 2010 and Best of Show at the OPA paint out in Woodland Park, Colorado in 2010. His painting. "In The Shadow Of Valhalla" was accepted into The Los Angeles exhibit celebrating The Ring Cycle and displayed at the Cathedral Of Our Lady Of The Angels in May 2010.

As an illustrator, his entertainment clients have included Amblin, Lucasfilm, Paramount, Disney and Warner Brothers. His most visible work in this field has been the final art for 'Batman", "Howard The Duck", and "Pocahontas". His corporate clients included the Suzuki Corporation, Nishiki Bicycles, and Nintendo. Lee is the recipient of a Print Magazine Award, Two Key Art Awards, a Belding award, and Gold and Bronze medals from The Society of Illustrators Of Los Angeles. Lee was an active participant in The United States Air Force Art Program and has three paintings in their permanent collection.