Henry Israel studied at South West Essex and Chelsea School of Art in the 1950s. In 1961 he moved to Cornwall with the painter Caeria STRONG.

He taught painting and drawing at adult education classes throughout north and mid Cornwall for 35 years. He was on the panel of lecturers for South West Arts, and a member of the Camel Arts Society in Wadebridge.

His early works were abstract but in later years he allowed figurative forms to emerge. He became interested in the possibilities of black-and-white photography but the paint itself was always a hugely important aspect of his working practice, becoming 'a metaphor for visual experience ... not limited to description or imitation'.

He exhibited drawings and black-and-white photographs together with Richard Meyer in Camelford in 2005. Meyer regarded him as his mentor - a stern but enormously kind teacher.

He exhibited in solo and group shows throughout his life, and formed a group with shared ideas known as the North Cornwall Seven group of artists.