Born in Lagoa, Algarve, in 1925. He lived in Lisbon, at his father's house, from 1932 to 1944 and returned to the Algarve, at the age of 19, from where he left, heading to Morocco, where he stayed for just one year. In the 1950s he lived with artists Artur Bual, Francisco Relógio and Rui Filipe, among others. At the time, he maintained a close relationship with poets and writers of his contemporaries, such as Manuel de Castro, J. Pressler, Herberto Helder. David Mourao-Ferreira and Natália Correia, side by side with Virgílio Ferreira and Sttau Monteiro, Aquilino and Tomaz de Figueiredo. In the beginning of his career, he was subsidized by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in his studies and learning and, in 1960, he visited Paris, where he temporarily lived in the house of the painter D’Assumpão. In 1964 he settled permanently in Hamburg, Germany, until his death. 1987, the date on which he returned to Portugal, to live in Lagoa, his homeland.

He has exhibited, individually, in countries such as Germany, on several occasions, as well as in various locations in Portugal, including Galeria de São Bento.

He was a member of the International Federation of Artists based in Brussels. He was honored by the Lagoa Municipal Council, having been awarded the Lagoa Municipal Medal of Merit in 1993 and giving his name to the town. Exhibition room of the Convent of São José. Won the Arts and Letters award from personalities from the Algarve.

In 2017, on the occasion of his 92nd birthday, anniversary, Arandis Editora published the biographical work «A Jornada de Mestre Gamboa», by Maria Helena Carmo.

Manuel Gamboa was a reference in the world of arts, with his works in several high-level public and private painting collections on all continents. His work graphics is particularly appreciable, whether in drawing, engraving (linocut, screen printing), monotype and batik (painting on fabrics, in original clothing models).

He passed away on February 13, 2020, in Portimão.