From 1965 to 1970 he studied drawing and etching at the Art School of Lourenço Marques under the direction of the painter António Quadros. In 1970 he was awarded a scholarship by the Gulbenkian Foundation, which allowed him to develop his ceramic techniques, at the workshop of the sculptor Querubim Lapa, in Lisbon. With a second scholarship from the Gulbenkian Foundation he travelled for a year throughout Europe, visiting numerous ceramic workshops.
Since 1975 he lives in the Algarve where he works exclusively in ceramic schulpture. Since 1964 Jorge Mealha has displayed his work regularly in many individual and collective exhibitions in Portugal and abroad.
Has participated in various collective and individual exhibitions both in Portugal and abroad. Has collaborated with the I.E.F.P. on several occasions in youth training programmes.
Organised an internaional ceramics workshop in the "Casa dos Oleiros" studios as part of the "Encontros de Cerâmica de Lagos" event in 1993.