Trained as a traditional painter and illustrator, Mick produces works that mostly evolve from his imagination. Compositions are usually unplanned since no theme or subject is pre-determined. They evolve as he works - often demonstrating "horrors vacuii," the fear of unfilled spaces. He pieces together bits of life's observation but the images may be recomposed, distorted or even fractured by overlays of line that add motion or direct the eye. Mick's works are more often creative syntheses rather than renderings of reality. Fully evolved works are often heavily embedded with secondary imagery. Design motifs create related collections, whether produced with paint, dye, clay, wood, stained glass, metal or mixed media. His dye-painted fabric wall hangings - or 'soft paintings' - start with random, vat-dyed or sprayed patterns that are then developed with heavy layers of heat-set painting dyes and overworked with transparent fabric inks. Consequently, fabrics are saturated clear through with color.