About Mark Howard

Discover the passion and inspiration behind my art, showcasing wildlife and beautiful places through painting and modern media.

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Artistic Journey

With over 50 years of experience, I create meaningful art inspired by nature.Who ?

I have always loved art and did a multi-media design degree at Manchester in 1983. I specialised in ceramics at college but couldn’t afford to continue when I graduated so became a Civil Servant for 31 years! (Oh yes, I also painted the longest mural in the world in 1984/5) Always painting for friends and family in my spare time. I have literally done hundreds of paintings over the years, from pet portraits to Paris street scenes and wildlife. Since retiring, I’ve set myself challenges to keep myself motivated.

Returning to ceramics recently I have realised that clay technology has moved on - So I now use air-dry and polymer clay to produce one off, robust pieces in a much shorter timeframe. For strength and structure, I make a feature of incorporating foil and wire in these clay pieces.

The challenge now is to spread the word about the effect we all have on both the evolution and demise of endangered species.

I am passionate about wildlife themes. It saddens me that many of the beautiful creatures I grew up seeing at the zoo, or at safari parks or even on TV and in photographs, are now on the brink of extinction. My generation took them for granted. More aware now, I know that every wildfire in Australia has the potential to wipe out the remaining koalas, wallabies and tree frogs. Every time a glacier shrinks into the sea, whole colonies of penguins, seals and polar bears are displaced. When land in North America is claimed for building new towns or wood is farmed illegaly, grizzly bears and wolves lose their habitats and have fewer and fewer places to live and breed safely. Poaching in Africa to make money trading rhino horns, elephant tusks and the pelts of many big cats have also left several species in a sorry state.

I'm not an activist, but I like to communicate these issues through my paintings - sadly knowing that without protection and positive interventions the images will in many cases last longer than the species depicted.

Artist

Exhibitions in Paris

2016 Paris Summer Exhibition. Hotel Cadran, Paris. May - September

2017 Paris Summer Exhibition. Hotel Muguet, Paris. May - September

2019 Paris Spring/Summer Exhibition. Hotel Muguet, Paris. March - September

Participated in several themed exhibitions showcasing my"Paris Favourites" and "Paris at Night"-inspired paintings.

Local Art Shows

2018 Autumn Exhibition at Lightwoods House, Birmingham. October - November

2019 RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) Exhibition, Birmingham, Jul

2019 Christmas Exhibition Himley Hall, Dudley. November - December

2021 Relaunch Exhibition, The Art Yard, Cradley Heath—Sept—Oct

2021 Three Themes Exhibition,(Working Dogs, Paris and Endangered Species) Himley Hall, Dudley. November - March 22

2022 and periodically since; Open All Media Exhibition, The Art Yard, Cradley Heath

2023 The Frame Workshop gallery, "Local Landmarks" Modern Ceramics Ipswich—May (Cancelled)

2024 Display of paintings and other work at Emma’s Humbugs, Sedgley

Coming Soon....

2025 Painting Workshops @ Emma's Humbugs and Crafts, Sedgley

2025 "Endangered Species 2" Exhibition at Himley Hall to coincide with World Wildlife Day (March 8th) Exhibition runs 14th Feb - 11th April and features 20 new works