Born 1939 in New Plymouth, Michael Smither went on to study at the University of Auckland School of Art in 1959, where he was taught by John Weeks and Lois White. His paintings of the 1960s record his immediate environment, from domestic still-lifes and portraits of his own family, to landscapes. All his works of this period draw on religious iconography and he also explored directly religious themes. Smither then abandoned painting for a number of years at this time to concentrate on musical theory and composition, exploring a system of harmonic relationships. He went on to apply harmonics to other visual observations, as he worked in graphics, theatre, prints, artists' books, murals and film (e.g. Flight of Fancy, 16 mm film, 1989). He also investigated creative techniques of environmental protection, making a series of large beach sculptures designed to prevent the erosion of sand dunes along the New Plymouth coastline. Smither is regarded as one of New Zealand's leading realist painters.