Contemporary Impressionist artist Daly was born on Long Island, New York. As a child his mother taught him drawing and he spent time in the studio of artist Woodhull Young at Huntington Harbor watching the boats and fishermen while listening to Woodhull’s travel stories. More recently Daly has considered plein air landscape painter C.W. Mundy as his mentor. His earlier career included graduating from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences (Ithaca, NY) and receiving a master's degree from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business (Philadelphia).

His experiences in business have resulted in Daly’s authoring of two books -- Ten Treasures Strategic Playbook: The Map to Enduring Business Success and Five Steps to Board Success: New Approaches to Board Effectiveness and Business Success. He also writes music for and plays the mandolin. Of himself as an artist Daly states “I paint life’s joys. I feel truly blessed to be able to create and share happiness through oil paint. My visual stories are revealed through impressions of city, boat, beach, and other memorable scenes."