Michael Ansell was educated at Erith Grammar School and University College Oxford where he obtained his B.A. in Natural Science (Chemistry) in 1962 and his M.A. in 1966. From 1962 until 1965 he headed a team of 8 scientists at the Development Section of the Analytical Laboratory of the Wellcome Foundation.

In 1965 he joined the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory and in 1967 became joint head of their Drugs and Toxicology Section. In 1969 he transferred to the Document Section of that Laboratory and worked there until 1983 when he resigned from his post as Deputy Section Head to establish his private practice.

Since 1983 the majority of his instructions have been from Solicitors in legally aided defence cases but he has also worked for Banks, Insurance and other public Companies and Unions. He has also been instructed by the prosecution in Police, Civil Aviation Authority and Trading Standards Department cases. Most of his work is in the U.K., but he has also worked in Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland. He has given evidence to civil and criminal courts at all levels including the Courts of Appeal, Courts Martial and Tribunals.