He Who Dares, Wins! (Only Fools & Horses) - Standard Limited Edition
£365.00
- Is this the best British sitcom ever made? If not, then feel free to suggest another! The characters and the scriptwriting are as Cushti as it gets. Following on from my 2020 piece ‘I’ll Be There For You’ that celebrated the enormity of the ‘Friends’ TV series, I wanted to create another in similar format but in a completely different era. Past pieces have referenced ‘Only Fools & Horses’ in a gentle way, through the iconic three-wheeler rolling into view but I have been itching to take this beast on for an age. It’s always a question on timing and having the ability to do it real justice.
As with other ‘Retrospective’ pieces, this wonderful example of comedy gold takes me right back to growing up and watching TV as a family, something that I feel is somewhat lost nowadays. It was always one of the ‘must see’ programmes when searching through the ‘Radio Times’ looking for the Christmas special. It wasn’t all Quality Streets and giggling though, god no! Something has just popped back into my mind whilst writing this that, if I’m right and I think I am, a certain brother disgraced himself by drinking too much of the beastly ‘Killepitsch’ liqueur that I brought back from a recent work trip to Dusseldorf (try it if you dare).
To my Mum’s horror we found him slumped in his bedroom chair covered in everything that he had eaten and drank on Christmas day with the announcement that he had ruined everything. On my hands and knees and channelling the big kid in me, I frantically scrubbed the red sludge off the carpet and trying hard not to exhale boldly announced that it was all fine and we could still make the Only Fools & Horses Christmas special. We made it, my brother crept back down on Boxing Day.
I guess this is what it is all about, my memories come flooding back from being immersed in my art. Bugger me I bloody love what I do! As with the ‘Friends’ series, the collective of different characters and catchphrases is just brilliant, all so different but such a close bond. Initially, this piece that you now see was going to be set within their flat within Mandela House but I wanted to go bigger, more pizazz, more je ne sais quoi as they say in the Dordogne. So, what we see is when the Trotters have cashed in their cheque and became ‘meewionaaires’ and are living the life in Miami where all that glitters is gold, and the jubbly is as lovely as it could ever be.
They say money doesn’t buy class, if so then who cares? The Trotters certainly don’t, they are all way too blotto on the Crème de menthe to care. Piecing together the ornate room is the same process as my original ‘Storyteller’ works but it all changes when you start to add the detail that you see filling the floor. I don’t shy away with things when seeking to make pieces authentic so the inclusion of Dels’ plastic pretties was a must but please picture the scene here, in the studio. Ok, so it was on a weekend that I began building the scene and I thought given that it is quiet here in general but even more so on a Saturday I would be safe to do whatever research I needed. You’ve probably seen the amount of glass in this studio, there’s not much to hide what you are doing, or looking at. So, whilst entering some search phrases into google that would get me to what I need without being pounced on, imagine what images popped up on my screen – just as I heard the young children whose family manage the estate run past the window! Not a scene Enid Blyton would have ever conceived! You plonker!
‘He Who Dares, Wins’ is littered with the detail that we all know and love from the series, it was just so much fun, and I don’t think that a piece like this exists, I hope you love it as much as I do. I won’t list out the references as I know how much you buggers love seeking them out but a detail that I love is the old couch. I spoke about how I wanted to do a piece that had the same qualities of the ‘Friends piece’ that centred around the sofa, and this is no different. This time however it takes pride of place because of what this series represents to me and to many, quality time with the family. The grubby yellow fabric is done this way to resemble the brilliant Robin Reliant and allows for lots of great details associated with it to be plonked there. You know it makes sense!
This piece could very well end up under the Christmas tree for some, just ask yourself this though, are you sure you took the giblets out?! Mange tout, mange tout! -
- Released: 2021
- Collection: Retrospective 3
- Edition Size: 45 + 5AP
- Specification: Limited edition fine art print, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 30” x 18.5"
- Framed Size (Approx): 38.5” x 26"
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 14 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
Commissions
When workload allows Mark embraces client commissions and has enjoyed amazing success to date. If you have been inspired by the work that you have seen and have a specific idea or simply a seed then please do get in touch.
Commission EnquiriesRelated Items
'Freddy's Coming For You!' - Freddy Krueger Claw Statement Piece
£795.00
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Gepetto he is not, but this carved wooden plinth displays the stuff of nightmares!
This intoxicating piece is the first offering to sit within his 'Against The Grain' series, a body of work that will grow over time and represents Mark's intention to continue to do things differently. Mark has built up an incredible reputation for the level of craft that shines through his unique frames, and it is these details that you now see in this piece.
Everything about this is unique, from Mark hand selecting the piece of Elm at a local timber mill through to carving the claw marks that are soaked in blood red resin. No two will, or can be the same. What starts with a beautiful (and innocent!) piece of Elm, is then stained, blackened, bashed and burnt. The haunting Freddy Claw glove has it's metal blades set into the blood resin channels and is then subjected to the same level of customisation as the plinth.
Limited to what will be just 20 original variations and priced incredibly well considering the level of craftsmanship and hours needed to create each piece. This is something that needs to be seen close up to be truly appreciated, but how close do you dare get to that glove?!
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- Released: 2022
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Hand selected locally sourced Elm (obviously!)
- Hand carved claw marks filled with blood red resin
- Blackened and burned
- Metal bladed claw glove
- Title and number plaque
- Hand signed by artist - Plinth Size (Approx): 19” x 9.5”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
'Grab Your Stick!' - Proton Wand Statement Piece
£995.00
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Now this is for the true obsessive GB fans! Whether you call it a Particle Thrower, Proton Blaster, Proton Gun, Positron Collider, Neutrona Wand, or Proton Wand, the result is the same! This piece looks like it’s been in a real battle and got slimed and fried AF!
I’m always striving to mix things up and look at ways of introducing my art in new formats and connecting with my collectors. Halloween 2022 saw me release something very different, and bloody dark! My Nightmare on Elm Street Claw plinth was the first piece that I have done that broke away from the traditional print editions and I loved every moment of it, and it has been so well received. It was a signal of my intentions to keep pushing and to deliver pieces that were true to my style but working with movie props to create something unique and special, whilst remaining true to my style of work. The aim was to offer a supporting piece that would complement a traditional print edition.So, my ‘RETROPLASM’ series has given me the opportunity to build on this and do something much less dark, although I couldn’t resist getting the blow torch out! ‘Grab Your Stick’ has transformed one of the coolest movie props that there has even been and made it, well I guess, funkier, and that’s before you turn the lights off – yep, the resin base glows in the dark whilst the neon paint also comes alive under lairy coloured light.
You are free to grab your stick, flick the switches and fire the sucker up! It will slam you right back to your childhood, just don’t cross the streams! Why not? Put simply, coz it’s bad, very bad! If you’re fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing, then maybe this will help. Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Oh, but don’t stress too much, batteries are included!
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- Released: 2023
- Collection: RETROPLASM
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Light up LED, sound effects and vibrations
- Blackened and burned
- Small parts to connect the stand to the wand - fragile - handle with care.
- Hand signed by artist - Baseh Size (Approx): 23.5” x 8”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
 - Standard Limited Edition&media=https://markdaviesbritishartist.co.uk/cdn/shop/products/OFAH-Hero_955e3dad-ccb5-40e5-97da-6acb8dcba9ef_600x.jpg?v=1637230543){kind=link}
88 & Out - Original
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- Released: 2019
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood 2
- Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 48” x 36"
- Framed Size: 54” x 41"