Martin was born in 1953. The first half of his gap year was spent labouring at Bedfordshire Brick Works to fund the other half in Florence. He then spent three years at the Courtauld Instutute of Art, London University, where he obtained a BA in the History of Art.

After a year working as a stone mason in Germany he entered the Philosophy Department of York University to study aesthetics. The expected career in museum work eluded him and he fell into the travel business by chance. After a harsh apprenticeship of four jobs in three years, he started a travel company specialising in art history tours in 1982. Martin Randall Travel was founded in 1988.

Martin retains a leading role in the planning of the company's tours, festivals and cruises and in the writing and designing of brochures. He has primary responsibility for framing company strategy and shaping policies, practices and service standards, and for building, developing and bonding the team.