Michael Kirby was born in Liverpool in 1956, he studied Graphic Design & Illustration at Wigan School of Art & Design, but after two years he decided to leave and moved to London, where he worked as a freelance Illustrator.

In a career spanning over 25 years he has worked for most of the major Advertising Agencies in the country.

He moved back to Liverpool in 2002 to concentrate on painting more or less full time.

He has taken part in numerous group exhibitions both in London and Liverpool and has had a one-man show at the Kirkby Gallery in 2008.