Born in Dublin 1892, he studied painting and drawing at the Metropolitian School of Art under the tutelage of William Orpen. He would be become along with fellow artists Sean Keating, Margaret Clarke, Sean Tuohy highly influential to the school of Irish painting in the early 20th century. A school which adhered strongly to the academic style of portraiture promoted by Opren.
He first exhibited at the RHA in 1911 with a portrait of O'Connell Redmond and over the course of his career he would con
tribute 250 paintings to the annual show.
In 1916, as a student at the RHA art school, he won the Taylor Art Scholarship. A number of portrait commissions followed, including one of the IRA headquarters in 1922, featuring Michael Collins whom Whelan painted several times. In 1924, Leo Whelan was elected a full member of the RHA and became Visiting Teacher of painting and drawing at the RHA schools.
His portraits are treated with meticulous attention to details. He presents his sitters, usually public figures in the traditional format of 3/4 or half length compositions. The figures exude a sense of importance in recognition of their position within Irish society.
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