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Today
Mark's artwork has moved on somewhat recently
developing a pointillist oil painting approach to
landscapes. Throughout his art career Mark's work
has maintained a recognisable feel despite
changing subject matter and styling of the media
used.
Mark has lived his whole life close to the
inspiring landscape of the Peak District and its
beautiful countryside has proved a great
inspiration to his artwork. He grew up near Derby,
spent a few years studying design and then working
in Sheffield before moving to Belper where he now
works from a home studio overlooking The Chevin, a
hill that dominates the town's skyline.
For a number of years Mark worked exclusively in
highly detailed graphite and colour pencil. A part
drawn style using negative space developed which
lent a unique appearance to the artwork a style
which characterises some of his most recognisable
and well known drawings.
Mark’s background has shaped his approach. His
drawing skills were entirely self-taught sitting
for hours and hours sketching as a child. At just
13 he developed a love of realistic pure graphite
drawing, and began creating photo-realistic pencil
drawings, taking time to advance his skills
technically in a way which is evident in his work
today. After leaving school Mark began working in
a print shop while studying graphic design. He
subsequently moved on to study illustration and
photography on top of graphic design on a HND in
Sheffield. There he commenced a career as a
professional graphic artist.
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A
grounding in design has formed a firm foundation
for Mark's art approach. There is an open minded
yet intriguingly fastidious way about his work.
His attention to detail is an instinctive part of
his creative manner. He has a proud love of
painters and architects from another century but
also thinks photography can play a productive part
of the artistic process.
Mark is inspired primarily by informality and
humour in his animal art. He likes to express the
mood of his subject and has a good feel for their
thoughts, leading one magazine feature to describe
his portraits as photo-realistic expressionism.
Architectural studies came later with Mark seeking
a creative outlet in addition to his commissions.
The art can be a structure in decline, an
architectural masterpiece or the more everyday. A
process of keeping an ever open eye is his way,
keeping his camera ready for anything that
captures his imagination. He admits he can't sit
and sketch because there are always another 20
things down the footpath to see as well. Mark's
love of walking for miles coupled with a curiosity
for what is out there has lead him to many
inspirational places and prompted many of his
works of art.
A multi award winning artist, Mark has sold work
extensively both in the UK and abroad. He keeps a
busy diary of commissions and exhibits his work at
a variety of shows and galleries throughout the UK
but mainly in the Midlands. You can find his
artwork in selected galleries. Commissions are
always welcome, and no challenge is too great or
too small!
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