Born in Hertfordshire in 1941 Michael Cooper received no formal art training after leaving school but his farming pictures, paintings and limited edition prints have been purchased by collectors throughout the world who have visited his studio gallery at Street in Somerset.

In 1984 Michael opened his first studio gallery at Crispin Hall in Street and became a full time artist. He had previously written and illstrated childrens books as well as having worked for some time on a Somerset farm an experience that stood him in good stead when it came to painting the farming scenes that he now specializes in.

A few years later, after an exhibition at Harrods his painting started to attract attention and he discovered a demand for his highly detailed rural watercolours and studies of farming life. His recording of the rural scene has captured a way of life that is disappearing so fast and will soon be gone forever.
In 1996 following a two-year commission for Allied Distillers painting all their whisky distilleries from Glasgow to the Orkneys Michael Cooper moved his studio gallery to Clarks Village the first purpose built outlet shopping centre in the UK.

Since then Michael has concentrated on more than ever on recording the way of life in the countryside. Old and vintage tractors rusting away in the hedgerows,  cider orchards, and the assorted livestock of The Somerset Levels are all a source of inspiration for the artist. Michael's new cow paintings,animal and pet portraits have added greatly to the selection of Cooper's  Countryside Collection.

Retirement, not quite and not yet?
Twenty six years after his first studio gallery opened in Somerset and it having been visited by many thousands of people Michael has decided to retire from running a gallery and take life a bit easier. So in the not too distant future in 2010 the artist will be changing direction to concentrate on the painting and a slightly less demanding way of life.
A final closure date for the gallery will be announced when it is known, meanwhile there is a retirement sale taking place in the studio, over no set timetable, as the artist would like to take the time to see a number of the old clients who visit him every year when in Somerset.
During this time there will be many reductions both at the gallery and on this website collection and though it may go on for a little while obviously the selection will gradually reduce as certain items go out of print.

Future Plans
Once the gallery is closed Michael expects to be able to take advantage of more time to paint, to be able to do location work whenever the weather is fine, regardless of any gallery hours, to add new prints to the website and find other galleries to show samples of his work. In addition he will be able to undertake commissions more easily without having to think about the gallery administration and sales hours.
                                        

Thrilled as he is to discover some rural backwater where time has passed it by, Michael Cooper also believes that it is important to record the country scene as it is today, or of very recent memory.

'The Hay Wain of the past is the tractor and trailer of today.'