GBP
Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus (Harry Potter) - Canvas Limited Edition
- A surprise addition to accompany ‘Expecto Patronum’ for my February 2026 release and it’s another spellbinding Harry Potter inspired image to add to my existing portfolio. In 2017 and as part of my ‘Spellbound’ collection, I created a striking interpretation of the unbelievably popular beast that is Harry Potter entitled ‘Draco Dormiens’ a shortened version of the Hogwarts motto ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ (Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon). My aim for that piece was to focus on a dominant icon from the narrative and put my twist to it, rather than trying to inject a deeper, more surreal narrative that could possibly be missed or offend the die-hard lovers of the franchise!
The imposing Hogwarts Castle and the magic that is contained within its stone walls offered the perfect opportunity to create something immensely striking. The building is incredible, monumental in fact, and by changing the perspective of the scene it amplified this to a great effect. and through building snowcapped mountains into the background, it positions the castle much higher than it possibly could be and further adds to the majestic qualities of the setting and remoteness of the castle. I was aware of the enormity of the following that Harry Potter has and the protectiveness of that, so I was blown away with the reaction to the piece back then. I still remember the launch show when the original was unveiled from beneath a white sheet. Instantly a collector hurled their credit card towards the canvas, marking it as sold! A moment that caught me and everyone in the gallery by surprise, but one that I hold fondly.
There is so much potential to explore (but not exploit) the wonders of Hogwarts, and I have another piece simmering in my mind after creating this latest version, that really will be something! However, for now I wanted to simply revisit the original image and introduce a different look and feel to it, giving it more drama and intrigue. The first image was raw and cold, gritty and with a strong contrast across a largely monotone palette, it just worked so well! I had previously created a commissioned piece that set the castle at night, and I loved the effect of that. Parts of that scene I intend to amplify in a future iteration, but it was the nighttime sky that I have always since felt could be expanded upon, so I have done exactly that here.
This piece has a really strong contrast between darkness and light; a dramatic moonlit sky sets the backdrop for the vivid magic to play out and fight the evil that finds cover in the darkness to creep up on the castle and those who reside within. When you revisit a previous piece with a new agenda, it allows you to calmly review the details from before and set about focusing on the tiniest of details such as contrasting colours and textures that many may miss but they end up combining to play a significant part in creating a special image.
Once completed, it just needed a title. I never like to simply pluck one for the sake of it from iconic quotes and I did initially get stumped with what to go for until it clicked. This piece is an expansion of the original, so I have done the same with the title -‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’. I hope you love what I have done with this new iteration, the colours really give it a special quality that looks amazing in both canvas or paper formats, and if you plump for a hand embellished option that so many of you do, it makes the image even more magical! -
- Released: 2026
- Collection: Spellbound
- Edition Size: 20+5AP
- Specification: Hand embellished heavyweight artist canvas, double framed, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 36” x 27"
- Framed Size (Approx): 41.5” x 32
- Get in touch for overseas delivery
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- Please allow approximately 14 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
Customizations Total: £0.00
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.
