'A painter of great lyricism and sensitivity, Stopforth captures the majesty and drama of the British landscape at its wildest, while expressing a profound reverence for the sublime tradition.'

Growing up in the Fens of East Anglia, the sublime landscape of Mark Stopforth's childhood left an impression on him that is still relevant to his work today. Recently, it's the vast immersive spaces of wild moorland and river estuary that have consumed Mark's imagination, which he powerfully evokes through charcoal, pencil, oil and chalk.

 

His influences are many and varied, including the calligraphic paintings of Cy Twombly, the tonal ink paintings of Hasegawa Tohaku and the landscapes by Constable, Claude, Cotman and Turner.

 

Mark has exhibited around the country, most notably on a number of occasions at the RWA in Bristol. He has also found success as a published poet, being shortlisted for the Brit Writers’ Award in 2012 and winning Fleeting Magazine's International Best Short Writing prize in 2010.

Writing has been put on the shelf for the time being, though it is present in some of his works' titles. 'Painting is my all consuming passion and is always a search for the next piece that’ll talk to me,' he says.

 

 

EXHIBITIONS

'Embers of Light' TIN MAN ART, London (2023)

Hope Gallery collection (2022)

Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham (2022)

Group show, Paragon Gallery, Cheltenham (2022)

'Elements. Air and Water' Group Show, Gallery 57, Arundel (2020)

Group show of selected artists, John Davies Gallery (2020)

Group show, Hope Gallery, Leeds (2018)

Finalist TOAST’s 'Works of the Heart' exhibition, Oxford (2017)

Secret Postcard Auction, Royal West of England Academy (2017-2020)

'Winter Landscapes', O2, Oxford (2016)

'Landscapes – A Retrospective', Stroud Museum (2016)

SKY Landscape artist of the year (Featured artist) (2016)

Hampstead Affordable Art Fair, London (2016)

Battersea Affordable Arts Fair, London (2016)

Selected Royal West of England Academy (2016-2019)

 

EDUCATION

1986-1987 Norwich School of Art (Foundation)

1987-1990 Cardiff University (Fine Art BA HONS)