Michael J Browne

The man, the artist - his story.

‘I was born in Moss Side in 1963 to a single mother. My mother, affected by her own past, struggled. She was adopted and temporarily crippled as a 2-year-old during the World War II blitz. She wasn’t around much when I was young. She was either working as a dishwasher, or out socialising in the pubs, so I spent many late nights alone as a child, drawing.

Although my mother’s absence was hard, I believe that’s how I started to discover my artistic gift. My talent continued to develop during my time at Wilbraham High School — but my studies suffered significantly due to life at home.

Childhood

During my childhood, we moved between Hulme and Moss Side but at age 15, my mother threw me out of the family home. My art teacher, Howard Love, and his family invited me to live with them for a year, in a more stable environment, where my work could prosper. This series of events happened twice over — moving home, moving out, and living with the Love family as I had become mixed up in bad company.

Education

I studied ‘A’ Level art and tech drawing and was told by my teachers that I had great propensity. Unfortunately, I missed my tech drawing exam, but I was still offered a place at Manchester Polytechnic to do a foundation course. At this point in my life, an ex-Oxford Professor named Peter Smith became a patron and would go on to support my work for a number of years.

During my time at college, I was invited to hold a One-Man Exhibition at the Ginnel Gallery in Manchester in 1982. At the time, I was on probation (due to events during the Moss Side riots), but got an interview for a university degree at the Chelsea School of Art. With the help of my probation officer and a close friend, I was able to source the funds to take two crates of work on the train down to London for the interview.

The interview was a success, and I got my place at the Chelsea School of Art.

This was a pivotal, positive turning point for me, not least because it allowed me to socialise with different types of people.

Back to One Man Exhibitions – this happened when I was 19 years old. The work was pretty dark in nature but most of it sold. I sold a painting to a member of the Royal Family (Lady Rose Cecil) and was invited to her Thames Wharf home to view the painting. I had two more annual exhibitions during my degree, but I sold some of my college work there, much to the disapproval of my college principle. This did impact my degree mark, sadly.

I went on to complete my MA at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1993 and during that time, I was commissioned by Alfiero Centamore to paint the 2000 square foot Sistine Chapel copy in Cocotoo Restaurant. The piece received world media coverage.

In 1996, having already been a supporter of Manchester United for a number of years, admiring Eric Cantona through thick and thin, I proposed a painting of him. He proved difficult to reach but I made a start on the piece anyway. Barca’s management (a bar in Castlefield, where Mick Hucknall was a co-owner) allowed me to use their wall space. I spent 10 months there working in public. Two weeks in, Eric paid me a surprise visit which marked the start of a siginificant period within my creative practice.

Click each decade to read more about Michael’s creations during each period of his art practice.

  • 2025
    Manchester Museum

    2023
    'From Moss Side to Marseille'.
    An Exhibition based on Sport, Politics and Society.    In collaboration with Eric Cantona.
    At the National Football Museum.
    Works owned by Eric Cantona.
    Reviewed widely in the international media.

    2022
    Competed in SKY ARTS Portrait Artist of the Year competition.    Painted Alex Brooker. He selected my work.

  • 2016
    Drawing of Wayne Rooney completed in public at the National Football Museum, with a percentage of the proceeds donated to the Wayne Rooney Foundation.
    Size: 56" x 43".

    2015
    Large canvas artwork installation for Gusto Restaurant, Manchester.
    Highlighting important historical events of Manchester.
    Size: 16' x 4',5"

    2013
    'The Art of the Game'    Painting on loan to the National Football Museum.

  • 2009
    A painting based on George Best, for 'Inside Out BBC'.    Documenting aspects of his life through my perception of him.

    2008
    'Michael Browne - Made in England' Documentary for the BBC.    Produced a painting based on inner city and country life, with a theme of Multiculturalism, and William Wordsworth's poem 'The Daffodils'.
    (Winner of the Royal Television Society 'Best Regional Programme Award' 2009.)

    2007
    Large 'Churchill, Rooney and Ferdinand' painting.
    Purchased by the PFA.
    Size: 5' x 5',5".

    2006
    'The Art of the Game' painting on loan to Manchester United Museum.

    2003
    Portraits of Ricky Hatton, light middleweight boxer.

    2002
    Lewis vs Tyson    A large painting artistically documenting the feud between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.
    Size: 5ft x 4',8"

    2001
    Included in the 'Painting the Century' Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.    Featuring 100 Portraits marking each year of the 20th Century.
    'The Art of the Game' painting was chosen for year 1997.

    2000
    Bronze Frieze designed and completed for Manchester United, celebrating the historic 'Treble' win.    Unveiled by Sir Alex Ferguson.

  • 1998
    14ft x 8ft painting completed and shipped to Beverly Hills USA, reproducing the painting 'Darius Before Alexander' by Veronese.    Private commission.

    1997
    Completed the painting 'The Art of the Game'.    An Idea I had for celebrating Eric Cantona and his personal achievements as a footballer and human being. Widely received by international media.
    Size: 10ft x 8ft.

    1993
    Began a commissioned project to create a reconstructed design of the Sistine Chapel, painted on the ceiling of Manchester Restaurant, Cocotoo.    The work, size 1600 sq. ft. took 2 years to complete.
    The project was supported by the Manchester Metropolitan University, and Manchester City Council.
    Size: 40ft x 40ft.

    1993
    One man exhibition at 198 Gallery, Brixton, London.    Title 'Moss Side, an Urban Landscape'.

    1992
    One painting hung at the National Portrait Gallery.    The 'National Portrait Award' Competition.
    Self Portrait.

  • 988
    Selected for the ATHENA awards by Manchester Art Gallery Director, Julian Spalding.    Work exhibited at the Barbican, London.

    1988
    One man exhibition at UMIST, Manchester. 28 paintings.

    1987
    One painting hung at the National Portrait Gallery.    The 'National Portrait Award' Competition.
    Portrait of Peter Smith.

    1982/83/84
    Had one-man exhibitions starting from the age of 19.    At the Ginnel Gallery, Manchester.
    Averaging 28 works in each exhibition.
    Televised features and news items.

Artworks in Public Collections

'The Art of the Game' | 'Path' | 'Moss Side Estate'

Other highlights

Michael has conducted seminars and workshops about his works and philosophy in educational institutions. He has had numerous exhibition/works reviews, inclusion in many publications internationally and media coverage about his various artworks and the projects completed over the years.

He has won a number of awards and completed in Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year where he painted Alex Brooker who selected Michael’s portrait as his favourite. Michael has also participated in Arts Fairs and the Manchester Academy of Fine Art exhibitions in the 1980s and 1990s.

Works have been purchased by many Art Museums and Educational Institutions.

Education

Manchester Metropolitan University
M.A.

Chelsea School of Art
Degree

Manchester Polytechnic
Foundation Course

Wilbraham High Secondary School, Manchester

Contact

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