Michael graduated with Honours from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee in 1982. He studied drawing and painting under Alberto Morrocco, James Morrison and Bill Cadenhead. In jewellery and silversmithing he studied under Dorothy Hogg and Roger Millar, and during this period he won the prestigious Johnson Matthey Metal Awards for a place setting of cutlery which he designed and made in silver, and which is still retained as an example by the College.
After leaving Art College he continued his studies, gaining a teaching qualification from Moray House. Thereafter, he followed a successful career within several well-respected advertising agencies, before setting up Hieroglyph Design, his own graphic design company, in 1992. He has also lectured in graphic design and illustration. Since 2009 he has been able to dedicate more of his time to fine art, and is now a regular exhibitor at the Open Exhibitions of the RSW and RGI. He was awarded the N S Macfarlane Charitable Trust Award at the RGI Annual Exhibition in 2010 for his painting ‘A bit of a guddle’. His paintings are in private collections throughout the world.