José Cunha was born on January 27, 1955, in Porto. The son of José Pinto da Cunha and Augusta de Jesus, he studied and earned a degree in civil engineering.

He spent the first 8 years of his professional career at the Porto City Council and the Porto Municipal Court.

Later, he began his career as a high school teacher, teaching mathematics.

He attended several high schools, the last of which was Augusto Gomes High School in Matosinhos.

He was an instructor at the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training.

At the same time, he worked as a civil engineer for a company for 15 years.

Starting in 1995, he devoted himself to painting while continuing to teach. He held his first solo exhibition in 1999 at the Paulo Quintela Auditorium in Bragança.

This was followed by solo exhibitions at the Casa da Cultura in Paredes, the Municipal Auditorium in Vila do Conde, the Municipal Museum of Esposende, the Museum of Iron and the Moncorvo Region, and the Municipal Galleries of Freixo de Espada à Cinta and Oliveira do Bairro.