Mark Watkins
In making analog collage, Mark’s practice reflects and makes observations about the human condition. Themes consider the transient and fragile nature of existence and the passing of time during which memories recede, re-surface or are lost. Working with vintage source material, disparate fragments representing specific moments from the past are juxtaposed or layered to create a new narrative for the future. The process seeks to embrace an aesthetic beauty found in fragments which have been discarded or overlooked with starting points often triggered by its imperfect condition.
The studio is near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire and visits can be arranged.
All the work is for sale. Please email or call for information.
Awards:
Doug + Laurie Kanyer Art Collection Open Call Purchase Award “Finding Calm While We Wait - Inspiring Hope” 2020
Juror Award received for ‘Making it Better’ selected by juror Rishi Mistry
(To view this collage go to ‘Recent Work’)
Publications:
Rapsodia Magazine issue 16, Summer 2017
Rapsodia Magazine issue 17, Fall 2017
Rapsodia Magazine issue 19, Summer 2018
‘Cut & Post’ Limited Edition Postcard Set published by Edinburgh College Collective
Defaced issue 2, May 2019
{th ink} 2: Objectextion, April 2020
FT Weekend Magazine, 3-4 October 2020, commission for the front cover and inside spread
‘Strike a Light’ Matchbox open call 2020 published by Edinburgh Collage Collective
An Echo In the Heart Cave published by the 6ress, February 2021
Crooked Jukebox published by the 6ress, July 2021
Collage Care: Transforming emotions and life experiences with collage published by Kanyer Publishing, July 2021
Transitional MOMENTS: restoring equilibrium through the art of collage published by Arizona Collage Collective & Kolaj Institute, December 2021
Invitation to Love published by the 6ress, January 2022
Omnia Vincit Amor: Empathy expressed through the art of collage, published by Italian Collagist Collective, 2022
DRI:M / SPACE Issue 01, March 2022
Sleeping with Art: The Art of Cards, October 2022
Exhibitions:
2016
IMPRESSIONS ART EXHIBITION Derby Royal Hospital, Spring 2016
EVERYONE OPEN 2016, Derby Museum & Art Gallery
MIDLANDS OPEN 2016 Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE OPEN 22 October 2016 - 8 January 2017, Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery
2017
CUT AND PASTE Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington, February - March 2017
G.L.U.E. International Show curated by Edinburgh Collage Collective, The Tent Gallery, Edinburgh, 22-28 June 2017
2018
LIFEDEATHSPIRITFLESH Collagistes Collective International Group Show, 31 May - 3 June 2018, Hundred Years Gallery, London
VINYLISM International Show curated by Edinburgh Collage Collective, 3-14 July 2018, Tent Gallery, Edinburgh
SEVENTY: Celebrating 70 years of the NHS curated by Air Arts. October 2018, London Road Community Hospital Derby
2019
INTERNATIONAL POSTCARD SHOW Surface Gallery, Nottingham, January 2019
INNOVATE: Celebrating Derbyshire’s Industrial Heritage curated by Air Arts, April 2019-February 2020, London Road Community
Hospital Derby
TODO LOCO 2 international exhibition of collage, April 2019, La Case Verde, Columbia, South America
FRESH CUTS international exhibition of collage, 31 May - 4 June 2019, EPH Congleton, Cheshire
TARPEY GALLERY WINTER EXHIBITION 2019 November - December 2019, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington
2020
CUTTING EDGE CONTEMPORARY COLLAGE Collagistes Collective International Group Show, 3-31 January 2020, Brixton Library, London
ANALOG Exhibition of Contemporary Collage Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington, August 8 - 13 September 2020
2021
TARPEY GALLERY OPEN 2021, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington, 23 October - 14 November 2021
TOGETHERNESS, D31 Art Gallery, Doncaster, 23 January - 27 March 2022
COLOUR, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield, 10 February - 18 March 2022
OPEN EXHIBITION 2022, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, 19 February - 2 May 2022
UNTITLED, RED Gallery, London, 13 June - 1 July 2022
PAPER WORKS, Creative Melbourne Gallery, Melbourne, Derbyshire, 13 July - 27 August 2022
CUT the CRAB, International Collage Art, Helsinki, 23 August - 30 September 2023