'I don't see why I had to pigeon hole myself', Mark explains.
When studying art, Mark experimented with a number of different art forms, from photography, ceramics and sculpting to collaging with materials and acrylic paint. Rather than limiting himself to just one of these mediums however, Mark decided to utilise his experience with all of them and create the abstractions that continue to define his work today.
Although Mark is the first to be described as an artist in his family, his style of designing has been influenced by the likes of his dad and granddad, who were both cabinet makers. Unlike them however, Mark is a fan of the theoretical side of creation as well as the practical. 'It's like a tree without roots' he tells me, explaining that we ourselves can grow by reading up about great artists who have gone before. Some of Mark's favourites for instance, are the likes of Antoni Tapies and Robert Rauschenberg.
When looking at the work of these artists (I suggest you head online and check them out), you can see how Mark has integrated their styles.
'I'm like a magpie... I start messing around until something starts to speak to me'.
His favourite mediums to use in his abstract process are fabrics and one type in particular that stands out to him were pieces from a heavy duty theatre curtain.
Once he finished painting, Mark would sometimes use the pieces of theatre curtain to pull over the wet painted surface, allowing the paint to 'ooze slightly through...leaving a faint image that would look something like the Shroud of Turin' he tells me. The reason for doing so however, perhaps epitomises Mark's work - it is because it indicates that there is a story to be sought out. As Mark says: 'I like the idea of masking things so that you really have to dig deep to see what's there'.