Michael Wilkin has been painting and drawing for most of his life. After spending his childhood in England, Germany and Kenya he arrived in Western Australia with his family at the age of sixteen. Based in Perth, he began his career as an artist for the Sunday Times newspaper. His training there as a commercial artist led him to a position within an advertising agency. From there, he launched his freelance career as a noted illustrator.
In 1978, Michael relocated to Melbourne and has become a well respected artist and illustrator with world wide recognition. He has consistently produced superb artwork for many clients in such diverse fields as advertising, architecture and publishing. They include The Age newspaper, Australia Post, Victorian Tourism Commission, Victorian State Opera, Museum Victoria, Village Roadshow, The Walt Disney Company and Fosters International together with leading Australian and international architects and publishers. During this time, he has contributed to the training of others as a guest lecturer in illustration as well as successfully exhibiting his fine art.
1999 saw Michael head to San Francisco to receive an international award from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators. Following such international recognition, his career took him to London for most of the year 2001 where he worked on various European commissions. His return to Melbourne resulted in him winning the inaugural Equitana Asia Pacific Art Award 2001.
During 2003 and 2004 Michael was again based in London, receiving commissions from prestigious international architectural firms such as Wimberley Allison Tong and Goo, RTKL and Gensler Architects. He returned again to his Melbourne studio, winning the Equitana Art Award for a second time in 2010.