Description

Anything’s Possible (Harry Potter) – Standard  Mark Davies

The intention for this piece was to create a true visual feast for the fans of Harry Potter and to do something very different to my 2017 ‘Draco Dormiens’ that was all about Hogwarts Castle rather than being dominated by references. I wanted the scene to be vivid and so intense to digest and ultimately fun. My father has a lifelong love of Steam trains so I have been drawn to the magic of the Hogwarts Express for a while now, having it stood there on that now infamous platform was the perfect focal point. Whilst planning the scene around the train and platform I quickly saw an opportunity to work in a similar way to a 2015 classic ‘Storyteller’ piece entitled ‘Dare to Dream’, a surreal take on Roald Dahl’s ‘The BFG’ where all of his magical objects and props are laid out in and around his case. I stuck to that and the end result is incredibly satisfying and personifies how I always love to link earlier pieces regardless of collection or narrative. The vibrancy of the magical details and the stunning Hogwarts Express and the quirkiness of the objects act as such a strong contrast to the darkness that lurks within the shadows of Kings Cross Station. There is so much that is open to interpretation here and so many tiny details, a true game of hide and seek and a piece that fuels the imagination to create something even more magical in your head and to embrace the fact that anything’s possible!

Mixed Media British Artist Mark Davies was born in Bedfordshire in 1978 and studied Fine Art within the region with his early works being inspired by the compositional qualities of Piero Della Francesca and Giuseppe Arcimboldo whilst finding inspiration in the surrealism of Salvador Dali. Now living in St Neots Mark works full-time as a professional artist from his beautiful converted brick barn studio within the Cambridgeshire countryside.

Mark’s now signature ‘Storyteller’ collection showcases his ability to conceive and implement his own narrative to cherished fairytales and classic fictional stories to stunning effect. Inspired by the eloquence of Hans Christian Andersen and ingenuity of the Grimm Brothers, a whole host of much-loved stories have been turned on their head with each chapter being re-written as Mark embraces the often much more sinister plot and motives of the original authors that most don’t know exists as these classics are re-told to generation after generation.

As well as creating mesmerizing imagery full of detail there has always been a subtle and genuine moral quality to the work created to make you think a little deeper. Mark’s original works have created such a wonderful interaction between artist and audience as each searches out the detail and pieces together the plot with the hope that they can get an insight into Mark’s thinking whilst being encouraged to offer their own interpretation of what they see or often don’t see within the image. This genuine engagement has played a significant part in Mark’s gallery shows and appearances being so successful and truly special events.

As the body of work has grown so has Mark’s reputation for creating art with genuine meaning, art that stands on it’s own and that is driven by a fascinating multi-layered narrative like no other. His skill of storytelling has expanded across other areas including stage and screen as he delivers his signature style across a broad range of subjects and genres that continue to pull on the heart strings and embrace nostalgia and the memories that we all hold so fondly. In addition to building a solid gallery presence, Mark’s success has seen his work proudly displayed and selling within iconic venues that include the London Playhouse and Fortune Theatre within the iconic West End along with the highly respected Mall Galleries in London.