Michael grew up in Winchester. He studied librarianship and realised early on that he didn't want to be a librarian. Going to life-drawing classes cheered him up. Later, Michael took a second degree in Fine Art printmaking at London Metropolitan University. Then he attended Lavender Hill Studios, an atelier-style painting school. He came back to Winchester to paint. In 2015 Michael won both the Winsor & Newton Award and the Le Clerc Fowle Medal for outstanding group of paintings. He is represented by GrandyArt in London. In 2018 he was a contestant in SkyArts Landscape Artist of the Year, episode 3, Loch Fyne. He teaches oil painting at the Mill Studio in Arundel and at the Colour Factory in Winchester. Michael draws and paints in a traditional style, from life.