Michael was born in 1947 in Folkestone on England’s Kent coast. After living abroad and moving around the country he eventually arrived back in Folkestone where he attended Art College, studying graphic design and illustration. Michael then moved to London and worked in various design groups and advertising agencies as a designer and typographer. In 1972 he began freelancing as an illustrator, producing work for advertising, editorial and publishing.

He was soon awarded a D&AD award for illustration and a Mecanorma award for best poster illustration. In 2010, Michael was short listed for The Red House children’s book award for Munch Crunch Dinosaur Lunch and short listed at the Bishops Stortford Children’s Book Award for The Wide Mouthed Frog. Some of the clients he has produced work for are Cadburies, British Airways, Quantas, Midland Bank [HSBC], Vintage Inns, Ikea, Queens Club tennis tournament, Puffin Books, Little Tiger Press, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Gullane Children’s Books, The Times, Observer and more.

Since the mid 90’s, he’s been highly successful in children’s books and has produced illustrations for a countless number of book including The Selfish Crocodile, Little Hotchpotch, Rhino’s Horns, Sulky Vulture, Ellie and Elvis, Captain Wag the Pirate Dog and more. His latest book, Who lives Here?, was published by Bloomsbury in conjunction with London Zoo. Since 2012 he has moved into fine art, his inspiration being the natural world as with his illustration work. Michael has four sons, a granddaughter and grandson. He lives on the coast in Kent with his partner Marta.