Cartlidge was born in Hampstead, London to a British father and a German Jewish refugee mother.
After leaving the Royal College of Art, Michelle decided to concentrate on drawing and started developing ideas for children's books.
[4] Since then she has had over a hundred books published worldwide in over ten languages,[5] and her Teddy Trucks[6] books have been made into a popular animated cartoon series for Children's BBC.
[8] Best sellers include Mouse Ballet[9] and The Cornish Cats Who Went To Sea.
[12][13] She has also designed a twenty-nine-piece bone china gift range for Wedgwood,[14] and greetings cards, tins and wrapping paper.