Born in Ayr, Michael studied at Edinburgh College of Art under Elizabeth Blackadder, John Houston, and Robin Philipson. He specialised in illustration, graphics, and photography and, on graduation in 1983, his love of film led him to work with BBC Scotland in Glasgow. A move to London came in 1989 along with a return to easel painting. His first solo was with Sally Hunter Fine Art in Knightsbridge in 1996. He returned to Scotland with Karen and their three children, settling in Ayrshire in 1999.

Since that time, he has developed and refined a highly individual style, exhibiting with selected galleries throughout the UK.