Since then Mark has worked his way through college and achieved a diploma with distinction in Graphic Design, which led to a Design Communication Degree specialising in Illustration. He received a commendation for illustration from the Design & Art Directors Student Awards in 1996. In 1998 Mark accepted an offer from Gratterpalm Group, a design and marketing company based in Leeds, England. Here he became their ‘Photoshop Champion,’ producing retouching magic on a daily basis and working for clients such as ASDA, Shearings, Focus and Dalepak.
During his time at Gratterpalm, Mark was also called upon to dabble in a little photography, motion graphics and point of purchase animation for the emerging ‘Captive Audience Network’ market. However, Mark was yearning for the illustration career he always dreamed of. So after eight years earning a steady income to fund his CD habit, it was time for a change. This involved boarding a big plane in August of 2005 and moving to Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife. |
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Taking the opportunity to focus full time on his illustration career, recieving commissions from World Watch Magazine, The Graphic Artists Guild while hunting out Tetley tea bags and Hob Knobs (the king of biscuits) for food. In June 2007 Marks' work was featured in Advanced Photoshop Magazine, which you can view by clicking here. Recently Mark has relocated back to the UK and the Yorkshire area where he grew up.
Currently, Mark can be found listening to his iPod, mixing pencil drawings and years of Photoshop experience, creating colourful, thought-provoking, whimsical, sometimes quirky and humorous illustrations.
Recent clients include:
World Watch Institute, The Graphic Artists Guild, Memorybanks, MC2 Design Group, Boston’s Weekly Dig, Gratterpalm Group, and Sundance Publishing. |
