Michael Carnegie

I completed matric in 1981 at Durban High School. In 1982 I completed first year B- Fine Art at Rhodes University.

In 1983 I went to sea with Unicorn lines as a Navigating cadet and following this worked for Safmarine as an Engineering cadet. After this during 1987-88 I completed national service with the South African Navy in the Marines and as a navy diver.

In 1989 - 90, following national service I worked in Namibia as a wilderness guide on the Orange river in the Richtersveld.

In 1991 I began working on Durban beachfront as a lifeguard where I worked for 10 years. During this time I also worked as a lifeguard in Jeffreys Bay and Sun City. I continued with training in Diving and seamanship (yachting) and developing my art and conservation work.
In Durban I worked with the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) and as a diver at Seaworld. I was involved with setting up sea-kayak tours in the area and worked with various groups to do conservation work.

In 1999 I began working as a sprayer in the surf board factories and began adapting my art for use in the surf industry. My art was used by Instinct, Quiksilver and Zigzag.

In 2008 I moved to Cape where I worked as a commercial artist and environmental educator. I was involved with setting up KELP (Kelp Environmental Learning Project) and the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Centre education and awareness programme.

Since 2012 I have been working during the UK summers as a lifeguard for the RNLI in Cornwall, UK while developing my art and conservation work further through international contacts.