'I believe a painting has to be instinctive and have a sense of urgency, but at the same time it has to be a considered work. If paint runs across a canvas it’s because I’m happy for it to go there or I may have even encouraged it to do so. Every stroke, line and layer of paint is intended to leave a record of its journey. I want the paintings to exhibit no fear of exposing their inner selves, the complexity of construction of how they came to be.'

Michael Whitehead began work as a graphic artist in a design studio in Melbourne in the mid-seventies. He has taught art in Victorian Secondary Colleges, opened a one-man screen-printing business, and worked as a builder’s labourer.

He has also taken time out to travel overseas. For the past few years, he has been painting full-time with his work represented in Australian galleries and is in public and private collections both in Australia and overseas.