Mike grew up in Portsmouth where he completed his Foundation in art & design before going on to study Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University, graduating with first class honours in 2004. After this he went on to assist established theatre designers while designing sets and costumes for a number of youth and education projects on the south coast. 

With experience of prop making for theatre, pantomime and children’s touring, Mike spent three seasons at Glyndebourne Opera House in East Sussex, working on a wide range of new productions and revivals for the 2005 – 2007 festivals and tour. It was here that his love of opera became firmly established.

Between seasons at Glyndebourne Mike became involved with the Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD), designing and managing a series of exhibitions showcasing the work of over 150 set, costume and lighting designers as well as theatre consultants and architects. A selection of this work formed the UK national exhibit in the Prague Quadrennial and subsequently toured galleries in the UK before remounting for nine months in the V&A Museum, London.

Between 2008 and 2020 Mike worked with a leading theatre consultancy practice, collaborating with architects and engineers on new and refurbished performing arts spaces. He has worked on a large number and variety of projects in the UK and worldwide including Nevill Holt Opera House, Kingston University and Fairfield Halls in Croydon.  

Mike’s artwork is grounded in storytelling and informed by his theatre design background with a focus on colour, movement and a strong graphic edge. Mike makes illustrations for greetings cards and prints that combine painting, photography and digital collage.