Mackenzie Thorpe was born in December 1956. He grew up in the industrial town of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England. After working in the shipyards and docks of Middlesbrough he attended Cleveland college of Art and Design before completing a degree in fine art at the Byam Shaw school of art in London, graduating in 1982. In the mid 1990’s Mackenzie’s work (and popularity) went from strength to strength and he started to get national and international recognition. He now possesses over thirty years’ experience as a professional artist.