Mark has exhibited nationally and internationally and has been shortlisted for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the year 5 times. His artwork often has a Northern theme, evoking landscapes of forest, moor and tundra and its resilient animals. Deer, reindeer, wolves and European bison are frequent subjects; all icons of wilderness. There is a shamanic idea that the land remembers its creatures and the sculptures certainly reference cave art.However there is also an engagement with contemporary themes; an interest in environmentalism informs he work, particularly the unsustainable logging of Boreal forest, which in turn may affect climate change. Mark has a previous science career.
In another series of work; the Ice Forms, Mark embeds images into ice-like resin producing complex layered sculptures reminiscent of ice cores. Mark says ‘Actually all the work is a meditation on the fragility of life- these animals are our ancient companions, we survived the Ice Age together but in our dominance of the natural world we have wounded ourselves. Finally we share the same fate’.
Competitions Short listed 5 times for the £10K David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year.
2014, 2013 Highly Commended Wildlife in 3D, 2012, 2011, 2010 Highly Commended
Wildlife in 3D
Commissions
Won national commission to produce work inspired by the First World War for ‘The Art of Remembering’ Rheged Gallery, Cumbria. Show will tour to the Barrow Dock Museumand Beacon Gallery, Whitehaven.
ABN AMRO Bank; a series of 30 bronze bull sculptures.
Numerous private commissions.
Selected Exhibitions (Involved in 80 exhibitions since 1998)
2015 The Art of Remembering. Barrow Dock Museum, Cumbria. Group show
Cumbrian Open. Upfront Gallery, Cumbria Group show
2014 Adventures, selected group show, Rheged Gallery, Cumbria.C-Art @Rheged; selected group show of Cumbrian artists and makers.
Inner Journey, Brantwood, [John Ruskin’s home] Coniston joint show
The Art of Remembering. Rheged Gallery Cumbria. Group show
Cumbrian Open, Upfront Gallery Cumbria.
Summer exhibition, Maiden Bridge Art Centre, Lancashire.2013 C-Art @Rheged; selected group show of Cumbrian artists and makers.
Association of Animal Artists, Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham, Cheshire.‘Animalia’ Group show, Coombe Gallery Dartmouth.
Summer exhibition, Maiden Bridge Art Centre, Lancashire.2012 C-Art @Tullie House, a show selected from the Cumbria wide C-art open studio event.
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle.
Association of Animal Artists, Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham, Cheshire.
National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Gordale Garden Centre, Cheshire
Cumbrian Open, Upfront Gallery, Unthank. Group show.
2011 Totem Body; Art and Shamanism. The Crypt Gallery at St Pancras Church, London.
National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Gordale Garden Centre, Cheshire
Marwell International Wildlife Art Society, Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire
Man, Beast, Magic, Crown Gallery, Carlisle. Solo show
Lloyds Art Group, Lloyds of London,
Forest: Furrow Riverside Studios Gallery, London. Solo show.
2010 ‘Sustainability’, Foyer of Hammerson's Plc, London. Group show
Lloyds Art Group, Lloyds of London,Iona House Gallery, Woodstock, Group Show
Red Barn Gallery, Cumbria. Joint Show
Modern Artists Gallery Whitchurch on Thames. Group show
2009 FiFieFoFum, Northumberland, Group Show
2008 McGill Duncan Gallery, Castle Douglas. Joint show
Red Barn Gallery, Cumbria. Joint Show
Lloyds Art Group, Lloyds, London.2007 Ice House Gallery, London. Beasts & Borders 1, solo show.
Barbican Central Library, City of London. Beasts & Borders 2, solo show.
2006 Essere Umano, [Human Being], Primo Piano Livingallery, Lecce, Italy.
2005 Haven; West Walls at the Beacon Gallery, Whitehaven.
1999 ‘Lanka Landscapes’, Ice House Gallery, Holland Park, London.Solo sell-out show, visited by 1300 people and reviewed by two Sri Lankan newspapers.The paintings featured on local television news.