Michael was born in Ireland and raised in Nairobi Kenya.

When he was a teenager his family relocated to Toronto, Canada.

At 19 he moved to New York City and attended classes at Parsons School of Design.

Returning to Toronto he worked in the costume department at the Startford Festival Theater and also as an assistant costume designer at CBC TV.

In 1985 he moved to London were he lived for five years and worked at Thames TV.

In 1990 he designed his first feature film.

He currently lives in New York City.