Mike Willdridge studied Graphic Design at Ravensbourne College of Art then worked as a designer, in the printing industry, as a soldier in the army and an art teacher. He took early retirement in 2006 after a teaching career in which he ran the art departments of two independent schools in England. From 2001 he has taught adults, mostly from his studio in Devon. In 2014 he stopped teaching on a regular day-to-day basis, moved to Dorset and now concentrates on his own work. He does, however, do a small amount of tutoring on painting holidays as well as as demonstrations for local art groups.

Up until recently, his own work had been exclusively two dimensional (painting and printmaking) and taken from real life through sketchbook observations and photography. He works in a loose and free painting style and usually develops his work in the studio. For some time Mike has been interested in abstraction and recently committed himself to the challenge of moving towards abstraction.

He has exhibited regularly throughout his teaching career.

1995    Sutton  Valence, Kent                               
1996    Sutton  Valence, Kent                               
1998    Sutton  Valence, Kent                               
1999    Llewellyn Alexander, London                  
2001    Sutton  Valence, Kent                              
2004    Eggesford Gallery, Devon                         
2005    Open Studios, Devon                                 
2006    Eggesford Gallery, Devon                          
2007    Charlesworth Nichol, Crediton, Devon     
             Open Studios, Devon
              Llewellyn Alexander, London
2008    Armed Forces Art Society, Mall Gallery, London
             Eggesford Art Group, Crediton, Devon
2009    Open Studios, Devon
             Eggesford Gallery, Devon
             Discerning Eye, Mall Gallery,  London
             Royal West of England Academy, Bristol - Open Print
2010    The Albany Gallery, Cardiff
             Armed Forces Art Society, Mall Gallery, London
             Llewellyn Alexander, London
            Armed Forces Art Society, Mall Gallery, London
            The Albany Gallery, Cardiff
2011    The Burton Gallery, Bideford
             The Redearth Gallery, Devon – print exhibition
             Armed Forces Art Society, Mall Gallery, London
2012    Eggesford Gallery, Devon
2013    Burton Gallery, Devon
             Burton Gallery, Devon
2014    Eggesford Gallery, Devon
2015    Open Studio, Beaminster, Dorset
              Somerset Art Weeks, Somerset
2016    Dorset Art Weeks, Beaminster, Dorset
             Mall Gallery, London (Armed Forces Art Society)
             Gallery 41, Corfe Castle, Dorset
2017    Beaminster Festival Group Exhibition
              Crewkerne Pop-Up Group Exhibition  
2018    Dorset Art Weeks, Beaminster, Dorset
            Menier Gallery, London (Armed Forces Art Society)
 2022   Gallery on the Square, Poundbury, Dorset
            Jubilee Hall, Poundbury