Mark Barnes is an English illustrator, graphic designer and writer.

Mark has been delivering illustration and graphic design services to art directors, greeting cards companies, public sector organisations and other commercial clients since 2004 . He specialises in humourous illustration but prides himself on his versatility, adapting his approach to meet the demands of a brief. He also undertakes private commissions but gets VERY angry if you ask him to draw a portrait of your labrador.

Although Mark's work is mostly created digitally (using a combination of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Manga Studio) his early work was constructed using museum pieces such as 'pencils' and 'brushes', which he will dust off if you ask him nicely.

His influences are varied but stem from a lifelong love of comics, newspaper cartoons and mid-twentieth century commercial art. He also sites buffets as being important in his development but this passion is more visible in his waistline than his art.

His alter ego, also called Mark Barnes, plays bass with Epic Doom Metal titans Khthon. He lives and works in Rochester, Kent.

Awards

Chatham Vines Public Art Award - Winner, for Museum of Tales

Medway Culture and Design Awards - Winner, for Shadowplay with Wendy Daws / Highly Commended, for Museum of Tales

Education

BA (hons) Illustration, Kingston University

Selected Publications

Images 33 - The Best of British Contemporary Illustration, AOI, 2009 / Medway Whispers, Urban Fox Press, 2008 / AQQ Magazine, Maidstone Borough Council, 2008 / Made in Medway, Made Labs, 2007

Selected Exhibitions

Chatham Zoo, Nucleus Gallery, Chatham 2012/ That's You That Is, Nucleus Gallery, Chatham 2010 /  Images 33, London College of Communication, London 2009 / The Centre of All Things, Nucleus Gallery, Chatham 2008 / Museum of Tales - Chatham Town Tales, Nucleus Gallery, Chatham 2008 / Medway Art Festival, Eastgate House, Rochester 2007 / Artwave Festival, Lewes 2006 / With Love, Coninsby Gallery, London 2005 / Shukuga-Kai, Coninsby Gallery, London 2001