GBP
Always Be Waiting (Peter Pan) - The Original
- ‘My formative years as a professional artist were dominated by my ‘Storyteller’ works where I retold classic fairy tales in a way that was unique to me and that more often than not, embraced the darkness that drove the very first versions of these stories that were then glossed over and read to us as children. In 2016 I created a piece entitled ‘Policemen & Pirates’ that explored the synergies between Peter Pan and Michael Jackson and was set within an abandoned Neverland Ranch. An imposing and condemned pirate ship, rusting bus and rollercoaster stood still, surrounded by signs of happier times where childhood innocence was king. It was a good example of how you would really need to explore the image to realise that it was based on a blatant story that so many of us hold so dearly. This was effective by choosing to avoid including any characters within the scene.
In complete contrast and a year on, I embarked on another style of working (‘Through Darkness & Light) that involved me creating bold imagery where the central character dominated but through being shown in silhouette, made up of hundreds of layers of smoke and a multitude of lighting effects and tiny shapes. So, 2017 saw me release ‘Forever Young’, a vivid and incredibly powerful piece where Peter is seen rising above the London backdrop into a starlit sky. It represents that want and need that we must go back to the moment when things were so much easier and to soar over untroubled waters. That piece proved to be incredibly popular and sold out in all editions.
In 2018 and as part of my ‘A New Chapter’ body of work that celebrated my move to being an independent artist, I chose to portray the wonders of ‘Neverland’ in piece entitled ‘My Idea of Heaven’. Creating this piece was incredibly calming but challenging, I had set myself a high target to create the most beautiful scene imaginable. The more I worked into the piece, it took precedence over ‘Neverland’, the detail is there of course but something existed that influenced my way of thinking. For within ‘Heaven’, as with ‘Neverland’, age is irrelevant, you become truly free, reunited. I have always loved the end results, but I knew that so many of my collectors were desperate to see a piece that was more in line with what they imagined their ‘happy place’ being. I had always said ‘never say never’. Never is an awfully long time after all.
2021 saw me start to acknowledge this when I released ‘Where Dreams Are Born’, an incredibly popular and adored piece by so many that took you inside the beautiful nursery with a wonderful secondary narrative that resonated so strongly with you all. The image linked my previous Peter Pan pieces together as it showed the point where Peter was leading the children off past the second star on the right and straight on ‘til morning. What this picture does is show exactly what comes from dreaming, and that doesn’t necessarily mean from when you are asleep, it’s your imagination, it’s using the power of thought to transform yourself to somewhere and someone completely different. I loved how cherished this piece is, however what came from that was a hunger to then see where the children would end up and to see the ‘ultimate Neverland’!
So here we are, it’s February 2025 and I have delivered on my promise. ‘Always Be Waiting’ has been created in the hope that it is everything that you hoped it would be, bright, bold, beautiful, surreal and enchanting. In February 2024, I focused entirely on one single image (‘Love Ain’t Dead’) to allow me to throw as much time and thought as needed into creating a statement for how that year would run. It worked! Years prior to that I had released a set of three pieces, but I much prefer just focusing on one at this time of year. It would take as long as it needed to, which is how I always treat each piece. I guess it is a combination of me being respectful of my collectors and not overwhelming them, whilst also being mindful that, through their loyalty, I am incredibly busy!
There are so many possible directions that I can go down with ‘Neverland’ and without a doubt I will, in time. Going in land would be dramatic and whimsical, I already can picture it! However, I was drawn to building my own interpretation of a mermaid lagoon under a magic moon as I absolutely love the effects of turquoise waters that ripple and at certain moments reveal what lays beneath its surface. It is a perfect balance between land, sea and sky as each is of equal importance. The original plan was for the ‘Jolly Roger’ pirate ship to be much more dominant, and it would have looked great, you only have to look at my 2016 ‘Goonies’ piece entitled ‘Hey You Guuuys!’ for that. However, the effects of the sky and horizon that I had built was so successful that it niggled me when an object encroached that. It’s these little tweaks that can make a huge difference, even if most of you wouldn’t notice.
I love to hide details within textures, I absolutely love how Peter’s side profile is formed within the clouds that build. It’s that ever-changing process where you just happen to see it before it starts to bubble back into normality. The children are also then depicted within the clouds. The contrast between the star canopy and giant moon against the warmth from the rising sun is so powerful. The whole process of creating this piece was so relaxed, it is how it should be but isn’t always the case for various reasons. I guess it was being able to sit back and stare at the success of the backdrop that gave me the confidence and excitement to continue to add in the smaller details that you can now seek out. Ultimately, the success of this piece that needs to stand out above others and grab you was going to be down to the composition and the colourways, anything else would then just be a bonus. It wouldn’t have been right to then add complicated detail within the scene that could risk the cleanliness of what I had already created. It is this courage of conviction that I am continuing to build on that is driven through gaining confidence through your support.
This piece is another example where you are getting closer to completing but you haven’t decided on a title. I never want to simply choose a title for the sake of it, it must mean something so that it can resonate and give weight and meaning to the image. The decision to introduce the silhouette of Peter from the past ‘Forever Young’ was a great one, it added that wonderful sense of arriving and being met by someone so special. That would have sufficed and from that the title was born. Yet it was from hearing on occasion that some collectors thought that it was ‘Tinkerbell’ not Peter back in 2017 that gave me the idea to create her to add something even more special into the piece. It works so well I hope you agree. Oh the cleverness of me!
So there you go, has it been worth the wait?! For me, yes without a doubt. I love it! It is incredibly satisfying as it represents an artist who has found a balance between staying true and continuing to tell their story and keeping in mind the tactical element of timings, which is a tricky one as absence makes the heart grow fonder…or forgetful. I will always listen to feedback and encourage interaction. As always, I see this as a collaborative effort, and I hope that you love this piece as much as I do. It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness. It’s a positive and vibrant image that is driven by a wonderful narrative and sentiment that we can relate to as we seek to journey on to our own ‘Neverland’ for our own individual reasons. Simply jump on the wind's back, and then away we go! How long we choose to remain there is up to us. Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough.
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- Released: 2025
- Collection: Storyteller
- Edition Size: 1 of 1 Original
- Specification: Hand embellished canvas with bespoke, diamond dusted frame
- Image Size: 58” x 36"
- Framed Size (Approx): 64” x 41"
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 7 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
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If you fancy something truly unique instead of the black or white frame choices, you can upgrade to a stunning hand painted frame by Mark. You can either specify your choice of style and colours or leave it to Mark to work his magic. Simply add your comments at point of ordering.
A global collector base has seen hundreds of original works sold, making him a respected and successful artist within the contemporary art world.
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 as part of the MD Studios set up from his beautiful, converted brick barn studio within the Cambridgeshire countryside.
Mark’s signature ‘Storyteller’ and 'Lost in Hollywood' collections showcase his ability to conceive and implement his own narrative to cherished fairy tales, classic fictional stories, and iconic movies 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 its 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.
2023 has been another incredible year for Mark as his career continues to evolve. Most noticeably has seen the creation of 'The Hive' - a stunning creative gallery space within his studio that now proudly displays his artwork in a striking and engaging environment that allows his collectors to get up close to a diverse range of artworks. In addition to this, Mark's presence in America has strengthened as the result of a wonderful charity event that saw him create a special original piece that sold for more than $16,000, raising much needed funds and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer's.
With an incredible work ethic and a genuine respect and appreciation for his collectors, combined with a solid platform that the MD Studios brand offers, the future continues to look exciting for Mark. A growing list of celebrity clients and commercial projects along with an established gallery presence has led to Mark being a highly collectable and hugely respected British artist.
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