Michael Harrell is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. He received a B.F.A. from the University of Georgia in 1989.

Harrell's seascapes and landscapes paintings can be found in a private and corporate collections throughout the U.S. and abroad.

His oils and watercolors have been featured in many national publications, including "American Artist Watercolor Magazine", "American Art Collector," and "The Artist's Magazine." More than a dozen top galleries represent Harrell's work and in 2004, "The Artist's Magazine" listed Michael Harrell as on of the top 20 artist in the United States to watch.

Michael Harrell's clients have included American Express, Paramount Pictures, Seaside, and the Mystic Seaport Museum.