BIOGRAPHY
Mark is a Kiwi-Fijian artist born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand.
Mark’s art is inspired by observing the ordinary everyday people and scenes of his environment. Hoping to capture their stories and characters, finding the beauty of every day life. Mark's style is a playful blend of realism and abstraction. His focus currently has been on the urban environment of Auckland City life.​ As well as being a practicing artist, Mark has a passion for teaching art and helping others grow with their skills. He teaches Drawing and Storytelling at AUT and has been teaching portrait and figure drawing at Studio One since 2022.
Mark studied at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design from 2013 - 2015, he then studied online through American based school Watts Atelier of the Arts for another 3 years.​Mark is part of the growing Life Drawing and Urban Sketching communities in Auckland and has been taking part in Life Drawing since 2014.
In 2019 Mark was selected as a finalist in the 2020 Adam Portraiture Awards and 2019 Kumeu Art Awards. His portrait 'Lion Man' was selected to go on the Adam Portraiture Awards national tour.
In 2022, he made his solo exhibition debut at Studio One Toi Tu titled "Auckland Under Construction". Where he also began teaching portrait classes.​Some of Marks artistic influences are Steve Huston, Jeffery Watts, Will Yu, Zhaoming Wu, Richard Schmid, Edward Hopper and Van Gough.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 WAITAKERE ART AWARDS
My first time taking part at the Waitakere Art Awards where I won the prize for the category of "Looking West".
2022 LAKEHOUSE MERIT AWARDS
My paintings "Burger Geek" and "Road Worker" were awarded "Emerging Artist" award
RHYTHM AND LINES
Group exhibition with the Life Drawing group "Drink n Draw" at Studio One
Debut solo show at Studio One in Ponsonby Auckland
My portrait "Lion Man" for the Adam Portraiture Awards was selected to tour at Wallace Art Centre, Pah Homestead, Auckland and Millenium Gallery in Blenheim.
My portrait "Lion Man" was selected as a finalist in the 2020 Adam Portraiture Awards held at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington.
Group show I was invited to take part in for the second time, held at North Art in Northcote, North Shore.
2019 KUMEU ART AWARDS
My gouache painting "Coloured" was selected as a finalist in the Kumeu Art Awards.
Group show with friend Orion Mabelle, showing some of our life drawings in Auckland. It was a kind of farewell show as Orion was leaving the country.
Group show I was invited to take part in for Northart's annual Drawing Show.
I was invited to take part in the Cuban Relief show, a group show organized by Malcom McAlister. It was to raise money for victims of the Hurricane in Cuba at the time.
My first time being invited to take part in a group show at Northart. I used this as an opportunity to test ideas for what would later become my debut solo show Auckland Under Construction.
EDUCATION
January 2016 - June 2019
WATTS ATELIER OF THE ARTS
After leaving Whitecliffe, I chose to study with Watts Atelier's online school to focus more on my drawing skills. The school made a world of difference to my drawing ability, art influences and work ethic.
July 2013 - December 2015
WHITECLIFFE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
In 2013 I took the risk of leaving my job to begin my formal art training by enrolling in Whitecliffe's foundation course in 2013. I would continue studying there, majoring in Fine Art from 2014 to 2015. It was an eye opening experience and helped me to develop as an artist and a person. Many of my art concepts that I'm still working on were first developed in my time here.
AWARDS
2022 WAITAKERE ART AWARDS
Winner for category of "Looking West" for my "Rock Star" painting.
2022 LAKEHOUSE MERIT AWARDS
Winner for "Emerging Artist" award for two paintings "Burger Geek" and "Road Worker"
2020 ADAM PORTRAITURE AWARDS
I was a chosen finalist in the Adam Portraiture Awards for my painting "Lion Man". Interestingly the awards took place during New Zealands first national lock down in 2020. My painting Lion Man was also selected to be on the national tour.
2019 KUMEU ART AWARDS
My painting Coloured was selected as a finalist.