I have been painting portraits of trees in west London woods and nature reserves for several years. Each gouache painting on paper is created and completed in a single live session. The pictures record improvised responses to a subject with a description that emphasizes the unique characteristic of trees and patterns of growth in nature.
Participated in the London counterculture scene in the mid sixties producing psychedelic posters, street murals and editorial graphics for the alternative press, galleries, clubs, events and demonstrations that defined the times.
A move into main stream media produced new opportunities for work creating images for the music industry such as cover artwork for the rock opera Tommy by The Who and illustrated opinion for journals that included the Sunday Times, New Scientist and Nova magazines.
Work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally including the Whitechapel Art Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Barbican Gallery, London and Tate Liverpool, Whitney Museum New York, Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt and Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich. Work has also been quoted in films such as ‘Almost Famous’ as well as discussed in the pages of Radio Times, Eye Magazine, Mojo Magazine and featured in broadcasts on BBC Radio 4, GLR Radio and BBC Television. Awards include a D&AD Silver and Joint Gold Award and New Musical Express Record Cover Award.
Mike's tree portraits have been exhibited at Kestle Barton in Cornwall and on the Art Wall at Kensington Place.