Leendert van der Pool has been a full-time fine artist since the 1970s, specializing in oil painting, pastel, watercolor and drawing. Born in the Netherlands, he spent the first 15 years of his work-life in the Dutch merchant marine, an experience that expressed itself in a large body of maritime artwork. He has also done extensive work using urban and landscape themes including a project of 80 large-scale pastel paintings based on the Ellis Island Immigration station in New York. These works have been exhibited in the US and Europe, including a solo show at the Ellis Island Museum. His drawings and paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide.

Leendert has taught fine-arts classes in the US, Europe and Japan and was an Adjunct Associate Professor of Art at Long Island University in NY. He has been a member of the Salmagundi Club, the oldest fine-art association in the US, for more than 20 years, as well as the Coast Guard Art Program, which recently awarded him its annual top award. In 2010, he was awarded a knighthood by the Dutch government for his cultural contribution to the nation.