Born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1928. He attended the Drawing and Painting Courses at S.N.B.A., in Lisbon. 1st laureate Painting Prize at the XIV Estoril Autumn Salon.

In 1972, Manuel Viana stood out in several activities, such as illustration for the press as well as decorating wall paintings. He was also a publicist and set designer for Teatro de Revista. In 1973, he took up residence in Paris where he remained until his death. 1986. Manuel Viana held his first solo exhibition, in 1976, at Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture at the Théatre de Colombes, in Colombe, France. 

He has exhibited in important galleries in Europe (France, Luxembourg, Yugoslavia, Sweden) as well as in Japan and in several cities in Brazil. Manuel Viana is represented in numerous national and international collections, as well as in important Museums. 

He passed away in 1998, in Lisbon.