Michael Hepburn is a professional artist from Greenock who specializes in pastel paintings. He prefers pastels because of the wide range of pre-mixed colour variations and soft appearance of the finished work. His main aim is to produce a warm ambience and naturalistic effect, through colour, light and tonal values. Michael's paintings cover a number of genres; including portraits, landscapes, maritime, still life and wildlife. Maritime paintings are his favourite subject matter. He grew up near the Firth of Clyde, which is a place with a long shipbuilding tradition. His dad used to work on the paddle steamers and brought Michael with him on numerous trips. These excursions nurtured Michael’s interest in the subject - an interest that is still with him to this day.

Michael works mainly from commissions. Due to the demand for his originals, he has decided to have some of his artwork made into Giclée Prints and Fine Art Cards, so that his output can be seen by a wider audience. Among Michael’s favourite artists are Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer, Jan Vermeer and Edgar Degas. All four artists have influenced Michael’s work. His style of painting has been likened to that of French Impressionist Alfred Sisley. His work resides in a number of private collections. Namely those of the McLean Museum, Sir Arnold Clark, Clydeport, Norman Godman, Cory Tugs, Clyde Shipping Tugs and Karlsen Shipping.