Maite Delteil was brought up in the French countryside and educated at the Ecole Des Beaux-Arts, Academie de la Grand Chaumiere and the Académie Julian. Delteil then received a fellowship from the French government and Institut de France to study in Spain and Greece. In 1959, she received the Prix De la Casa Velasquez. Following her marriage to Kolkota-born painter Sakti Burman she was introduced to India and its culture. Her first solo exhibition took place in Kolkota in 1964 and, since 2001, Delteil has exhibited exclusively in India.

Delteil's work has been described as creating an "idyllscape" of "everyday scenes". Her exhibition Enchanted at Art Musings Gallery, Colaba, Mumbai in January 2013 consisted of intricate colourful paintings of "perfectly round trees, serene-looking people and pretty birds" which conveyed "the meaning of life without being morbid or dark".

Delteil has had exhibitions in several other countries, including France, U.S. and Japan. Her works are in several public and private collections of these countries.

A book about Delteil, her life and work was due to be published in 2013.