Michael Whiteley's family have been in the British Theatre industry for more than one hundred and twenty years. Michael himself has been in the business of design and construction for the Entertainment Industry for nearly thirty years. During nineteen very happy years through the sixties, seventies and eighties at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, he transformed the props and scenic sculpture department into what was regarded as one of the best studios in Europe. Props and sculpture were produced for over one hundred major productions for designersand directors as diverse as Oscar winner Ken Adams, painter David Hockey and world famous directors such as Franco Zeffirelli, Pierro Faggioni and John Shlessinger.

Since leaving the Royal Opera House in 1987, Michael has worked on most of the large West End productions, Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevarde, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and many more. He can also include film credits, Star Wars Trilogy, Indiana Jones Trilogy and Titanic amoungst others.

Many designers including John Napier and Martain Bainbridge and design companies like Imagination recognise Michael as an acknowledged expert on period design and finish. This, together with the eye of a perfectionist, is reflected in the standard of work produced by Artisan 2003 Ltd.