Painting to me has almost become as essential as breathing.
It’s something that encompasses far more than the ability to put paint on a brush and apply it to a surface. It becomes part of daily life in how I look at everything I see and do. Noticing the reflected light on a coffee cup or how a wilting leaf can evoke an emotion. I want to create a moment in a story that the viewer completes when they look at my work. It’s not just what it means to me but what it means to them.
Biography
Mark's enthusiasm for art goes back to his early childhood in England where he displayed a keen interest in drawing. Moving to Canada at an early age he was eager to be Canadian. In his late 20s he re discovered his creativity and received a diploma in Graphic Design and Illustration from Capilano University. Around 2003 Mark started to learn classical oil painting and developed his skill over the next several years. After a hiatus from painting Mark continued to study colour and technique and in 2017 picked up painting again with renewed vigour and much improved technique and style. Mark has since been juried into shows in New York, Santa Fe and several online shows. Mark also was a finalist in the prestigious ARC Salon in 2021 and 2022. He vows to never leave painting behind ever again and looks forward to doing much more teaching and shows in the future.
Education and Memberships
Diagnostic Painter, Anthony Waichulis - ANI Art Academy, 2023
Juried Member, Federation of Canadian Artists (currently non active)
Juried Member, International Guild of Realism (currently non active)
Diploma, Illustration and Design, Capilano University, 1995
Exhibitions
Richeson Gallery, Kimberly, WI – “Small Works”, International Juried Exhibition, 2025
RLS Gallery, Charleston, NC – “Paired”, Group Show 2024
Almenara Art Prize – International Online Juried Exhibition, 2024
Salmagundi Club, New York – Juried Non-Members Annual Show, 2022
Federation Gallery, Vancouver – “Retro”, Online Juried Exhibition, 2021
Federation Gallery, Vancouver – “Shape and Form”, Juried Exhibition, 2021
Federation Gallery, Vancouver – “Small Works”, Juried Exhibition, 2021
Federation Gallery, Vancouver – “On The Edge”, International Juried Exhibition, 2021
International Guild of Realism - Online Spring Salon, Juried Exhibition, 2021
International Guild of Realism – Online Winter Salon, Juried Exhibition, 2019
Gallery MC, New York – “Transformation”, International Juried Exhibition, 2018
Sugarman Peterson Gallery, Santa Fe – International Juried Exhibition, 2018
Ico Gallery, New York - Group show, 2008
Downtown Gallery,Vancouver - Group show, 2007
11 StudioWest, Kamloops – Group show, 2006
Marilyn Mylrea Gallery, Vancouver - Various group shows, 2005/06
Choklit, Vancouver – Exhibition at Arthur Erickson show home, 2005
Awards and Achievements
Richeson75 International Small Works - 1st Place, Oil/Acrylic, 2025
Artists Magazine - 1st Place Still Life “Artists to Watch”, 2024
Salmagundi Club Juried Exhibition – Hudson Valley Art Association Award , 2022
ARC Salon 2022 (International) – Finalist (5,400 entries from 75 countries)
Canada Council for the Arts Grant Recipient, 2022
Federation Gallery – 1st place “Shape and Form”, National Juried Exhibition, 2021
Federation Gallery – 2nd place “Small Works”, National Juried Exhibition, 2021
Federation Gallery – 3rd place “On The Edge”, International Juried Exhibition, 2021
Jackson’s Art Prize 2021 (International) – Long List (top 400 of 8,674 entries)
ARC Salon 2021 (International) – Finalist (4,941 entries from 83 countries)
Arte Laguna Prize 2019 (International) – Semi Finalist
Teaching, Demonstrations, Workshops
Mentorship, Online – 2025
Academy of Modern Art – Teaching youth oil painting, 2023
Eastside Culture Crawl – A Simple Approach to Colour online demonstration, 2021
North Vancouver Recreation & Culture – Intro to Oil Painting, 2019 - 2020
Opus Art Supplies – Oil painting process demonstrations, 2019
Federation of Canadian Artists – Oil Painting, Basics & Beyond, 2019
Articles / Press
Artists Magazine Nov/Dec 2024 – Artists to Watch, First Place, full page article