Born in Surrey, Michael Finn became an influential figure in the post-war Cornish art scene. Finn studied at Kingston School of Art from 1938 for four years before joining the Royal Air Force in 1942 for pilot training in Canada. During the Second World War, he returned to Britain to fly missions over Northern Europe, including the Arnhem operation. After the war, he was placed on standby for service in the Far East. Years later, he sold his campaign medals to help support his local Cornish art gallery. In 1949, Finn began teaching at Somerset College of Art before moving to Falmouth School of Art, where he later became Principal. In the 1970s, he relocated to take on the prestigious role of Principal at the Bath Academy of Art, though h...