Michael Tripp was born at Talywain, Pontypool in the Eastern Valley of Monmouthshire, where he still lives.

He was educated at Abersychan Grammar School, and was "mad about trains" from childhood. He left school at 15 and began work with British Railways at Pontypool, and was to work at many local stations.

The Beeching cuts closed much of the local network so he joined the National Coal Board, working at a number of local mines, until they also closed.

Tripp was always keen on painting at school where he won prizes for his work. He resumed painting some twenty years later during a long illness.

He may be regarded as a true primitive/folk painter. Unlike a number of artists of South Wales who have deliberately chosen to paint in a naïve style, he has not been to Art College nor has he received any fine art training. His paintings, which depict his lifelong interest in trains, are carefully researched and filled with the detail a true railway enthusiast would appreciate. They reflect the time when railways were such an important part of South Wales valley life.

He has shown at Bohun Gallery, London along side other British primitive painters, held a one-man show at Llatarnam Grange, Cwmbran and has exhibited at a number of other galleries.