
Born in 1957, Auckland, New Zealand
Michael is an international award winning pastel artist from New Zealand. He has had a fascination with realism since childhood and in his paintings he is always striving to create images that have greater depth and feeling than can be achieved with a photograph.
Michael is in the Master Circle of IAPS, is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), a Distinguished member of the Pastel Artists of New Zealand (DPANZ) and has a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Michael went to Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, to be a painter and left a product designer. However after a successful design career in 2010 he decided to return to his passion for painting.
Starting initially with acrylics, before discovering the wonderful medium of pastel – which suits his photo-realistic style and love of detail.
Michael’s subjects range from his current series of still life paintings featuring iconic New Zealand toys and objects, through - landscapes featuring old weathered sheds, barns, railway carriages, windows and doors, old locks, and farm animals (mainly cows) – all inspired from photographic trips along New Zealand's roads.
Michael has won many awards internationally and here in New Zealand, and has been exhibiting his work regularly since 2015.