生于新加坡，荣获美国哈佛大学设计博士、康奈尔大学建筑学硕士 (艺术历史和美术)、新加坡国立大学建筑学与文科学士。随后，她在日本东京联合国大学, 东京医科牙科大学和德国海德堡大学获得博士后奖学金。
80年代期间，师承范昌乾的学生赖瑞龙与李淑芝。后来她在东京联合国大学做博士后研究时学习日本书法, 和在新加坡潘永强的带领下学习中国书法。屡次参加国内外个展与联展，并荣获国际大奖，作品典藏于国际博物馆, 企业和私人收藏机构。
李博士是墨澜社的财政，也是其他七个艺术协会的终身会员。

Dr. Irene S. M. Lee obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture degrees at the National University of Singapore, Master of Architecture in Urban Design at Cornell University (where she minored in Fine Arts & Art History), and Doctorate at Harvard University, USA. Subsequently, she was awarded postdoctoral fellowships at the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan and at the University of Heidelberg in Germany.
In the eighties, Dr. Lee studied Chinese brush painting under Nai Swee Leng and Lee Soo Chee. Subsequently, she studied Japanese calligraphy while in Tokyo, and Chinese calligraphy under Phang Weng Kiong in Singapore. She is an award-winning artist both locally and internationally, and has participated in many competitions and exhibitions. Her works are in museums, and international public and private collections.
Dr. Lee is the Treasurer of the Molan Art Association and a life member of seven other art societies.