Mike Bailey was born and educated in Cheshire.

In 1956, after leaving school, he entered the scientific civil service, working as a meteorologist in civil aviation and, subsequently, at the Glasgow Weather Centre. From 1971 until 1974 he was a regular broadcaster with BBC Radio Scotland.  From 1961 to 1964 Mike worked as oceanographer and meteorologist with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, researching aspects of marine biology and sedimentation in the Solway Firth. During that period he contributed to a series of scientific papers describing the radio biology of the Solway. From 1968 until 1971 he served as meteorologist with the Royal Air Force in Germany.

In 1976, after completing an honours degree in Earth Sciences and Social Science, Mike became Museum and Gallery Organiser with Kyle and Carrick District Council, beginning a new career in the Arts.

Until his early retirement, in 1997, Mike was based at Rozelle Park (Ayr), taking responsibility for the management of the Museum Collection and the development of Rozelle House Galleries, the Maclaurin Art Gallery and the Maclaurin Art Collection. During this period the Maclaurin Collection was developed, with the support of the National Fund for Acquisitions and the Scottish Arts Council, becoming one of the foremost collections of contemporary British Art in Scotland. Exhibitions by major British artists such as Alan Davie, Bridget Riley, Henry Moore and Patrick Heron were organised during Mike's tenure as Gallery Director and these artists were also represented in the collections.  During this period Mike designed and edited a number of publications and exhibition catalogues.

In 1983 Mike was a founding member of the Ayrshire Arts Festival and acted a programme director for the first two years of the event.

From 2006 until the Spring of 2009 Mike was webmaster for the World Association of Person Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling.  During that period he redeveloped the associations website and launched a multilingual site for the association's quarterly Journal.  In addition to maintaining and developing websites for individuals, Mike is webmaster for the Ayrshire Arts Network.
Mike also advises artists in the documentation and presentation of exhibitions.

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