Issek's career as an artist has thrived in spite of and often as a result of the hardships he has faced throughout his life. His journey began in a small village in Cameroon where, stricken with polio at a young age, Issek had few options because of his disability. Adding further to his difficulties, his family considered it a waste of money to pay for the schooling of a handicapped child.

Many of the physically challenged in Cameroon resign themselves to begging for money to buy food, but Issek resisted. Vowing never to beg for a living, he gained an education informally from anyone who would teach him. His search led him as far as Central African Republic and the former Zaire, where he learned to paint. Many years later, after settling in Cameroon, Issek has become a well-known figure with critical recognition and many awards.

His paintings are regularly exhibited throughout his home country and have earned him the Gold Medal for Painting at the National Festival of Arts in Cameroon. His works are included in the collection of the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon, as well as in the personal collections of former and current Ambassadors and a former director of the World Bank. His work has been exhibited in New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan.