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‘Happily Never After’ - Canvas Limited Edition

Mark Davies British Artist

£1,495.00

  • Following on from my debut collection ‘Matryoshka’ in 2014, it was my ‘Storyteller’ works that started gaining traction and an appreciation for how my mind works. I was intrigued by the contrast between what we were read as children and what the original versions of each story involved. It was shocking! The Brothers Grimm, I salute you, you dark, twisted fucks! A big shout out to Mr Hans Christian Andersen too, you absolute rotter!

    So, this is where it really started, the fascination for how darkness resides in such proximity to light and how the lines are blurred in the middle. I was not in a good place at all back then and I guess this is what resonated so strongly, that contrast between making out that all is good and light, yet the reality was much, much darker, despairingly grimm.

    Looking back to my artwork in education, some of that was twisted too yet I had a stable and wonderful upbringing, interesting! As a naive professional artist starting out, I found it mind-blowing that someone could find such an affiliation to my thoughts laid out in print. My first chapter involved incredibly surreal works such as ‘Say My Name Bitch’, ‘Toile and Trouble’, ‘High Ho’ and ‘Policeman and Pirates’ and I was so proud of the results. The originals were my real opportunity to truly express myself creatively despite lacking so much confidence, the prints did well but it was the number of commissions that came from the first couple of chapters that blew my mind.

    It was clear in 2016 when I launched ‘Lost in Hollywood’ – a bold collection of my interpretations of iconic movies, that this subject matter had a much bigger appeal and ultimately saw a higher demand for prints. ‘Storyteller’ risked becoming a dirty word as was deemed more niche, yet it was where my heart was. I needed it, it was where I shouted the loudest through my work. A key factor was that these pieces didn’t feature characters, it was left to the details that were hidden or woven into the scene to tell my story and give you an insight into the multi layered narratives that drove each piece. It allowed me to be so surreal, random, clever, and true. It allowed me to be me.

    Since choosing to become an independent artist back in 2018 to work without restrictions, it immediately proved to be a brilliant decision and things quickly grew. My very first piece that I released was a classic ‘Storyteller’ piece entitled ‘Rumposilshkin’ – it was dark, twisted and so authentic. I wanted to make it clear that despite the successes of other subjects deemed more commercial that I was going to remain true to why I create art in the first place.

    So, ten years into my art career and ‘Decadence’ has given me the perfect opportunity to work in that way and create my latest ‘Storyteller’ piece to hopefully show my wonderful and loyal collectors that there are so many more chapters left to write and to demonstrate how I have grown and evolved as an artist from a technical perspective and on production level also. Are you sitting comfortably? I present to you ‘Happily Never After – a striking image that is crammed full of detail, clues, hidden meaning, and references to Chapter One. Let’s begin…

    What I have done is to depict an abandoned theme park that has fallen into a state of disrepair through lack of use. There are so many links, big and small, to my earlier works, so many crazy references for you to seek out. Remember as a kid when you walked up to the entrance and you caught sight of the big rides in the distance, it was so exciting. For me, it was the ‘Meli’ park in De Panne – Belgium that captivated me and my imagination. I still seek out photos and videos online where possible – it seems like a different world back then. Smoutebollen changed my life!

    The reason that the Kingdom of Happily Never After has fallen into this sorry state is down to a new age – the digital age. It is the acknowledgement of a transition from children needing and wanting to use their imagination to truly play and pretend through to everything being on tap so to speak, available at the click of a button. When you think back to being a kid and the roleplay and the freedom to really play without any restrictions, without any genuine danger, what came from that was beautiful. So, there are references to this movement within the scene, mainly through the wardrobe that offers visits to Narnia from £149 per person for twenty minutes. Stripping out all that is magical and making it all about money, greed breeds monsters.

    I am proud of every piece that I create for many different reasons, this piece really is everything to me. I love it! I was so completely immersed from start to finish and it was hard to stop and acknowledge that it was done, I probably could have stopped a day before and it would have looked superb, but I would have known that it could have gone further. So, what do you lot think? I hope that this gives you so much enjoyment seeking out and interpreting all the references and links to past chapters. Speaking of chapters, another one has opened and so many more are yet to be written. What is so incredible is that this incredible platform that I have to talk through my art has become a solid career, pure hard graft and a brilliant set up ensures that there will be no ending, but we will all live happily ever after.

    To everyone who has bought a ‘Storyteller’ piece, thank you. I absolutely bloody love you! X

     


    1. Released: 2024
    2. Collection: Decadence
    3. Edition Size: 20 + 5AP
    4. Specification: Hand embellished heavyweight artist canvas, double framed, hand signed by artist.
    5. Image Size: 42” x 27"
    6. Framed Size (Approx): 48” x 33"
    1. Get in touch for overseas delivery
    2. Please allow approximately 14 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.

Category: fairy tale, Storyteller

Type: Limited Edition

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 Enquiries

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SOLD OUT: The Memory Remains 2 - 1000 Piece Jigsaw

  • Well, well, well! Mark's first jigsaw puzzle! Another format that is just the perfect fit for the interactive qualities of his work.  

    Is there a better image to feature as Mark's first limited edition jigsaw puzzle than the highly sought after and long sold out 'The Memory Remains 2' from 2019? Feel free to tell us if you think there is because this is the first within a cracking collection in the future. 

    Mark's imagery are so often rammed full of detail and clues to solve that they are loved for how they bring people together to embrace their memories. Mark has always loved to set down clues within his art to help you try and determine the hidden narratives than exist, so creating an actual puzzle just seems the natural choice as we look to bring his work to a wider audience through exciting and engaging formats. 

    As with every element of his work, the focus has, and always will be on delivering quality, to best represent his art and retain that limited edition quality that is so well respected and successful.

    So, we are excited to offer a beautifully vibrant limited edition, 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that is proudly made in the UK by a leading specialist manufacturer who's sustainability efforts are a key quality of their business. The standard clear polybag the jigsaws come in is 100% recyclable, their millboard used for the actual jigsaws is 100% recycled, their ink is sourced in the UK and is vegan, and all their paper used in production is Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) paper sourced from FSC & PEFC sources.

    Not bad eh! In addition to this, your jigsaw puzzle is strictly limited to 100 and comes with Mark's hand signed narrative card and certificate of authenticity. Should you wish for the box tray lid to be signed by Mark, this can be done by removing the protective shrink wrapping that each puzzle comes in.

    100% quality, 100% enjoyment!

    The first jigsaws will be arriving with us at the start of December and will be then available for either collection or delivery.


    1. Released: 2022
    2. Collection: Retrospective 
    3. Edition Size: 100 
    4. Specification:
      - 26" x 20" completed size
      - Made in the United Kingdom
      - Sustainably sourced materials
      - UK sourced, vegan inks
    5. - 100% recycled board 
      - Complete with hand signed narrative card and certificate of authenticity 
    1. Get in touch for overseas delivery
    2. Jigsaws will arrive into the studio early December for collection or delivery. 
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NEW: Bollocks to Bedtime! - 1000 Piece Jigsaw

£40.00

  • Get to your room! It's time to build a new puzzle!   

    Following on from the amazing success of Mark's first limited edition jigsaw puzzle that saw 'The Memory Remains 2' sell out, we are proud to now offer the nostalgic beast that is 'Bollocks to Bedtime!' There is an insane amount of detail to seek out and piece together! This will be no easy task, the pieces are small, the scene is chaotic, so don't think you'll be going to bed any time soon once you open the box!  

    Mark's imagery is so often rammed full of detail and adored for how they bring people together to embrace their memories. Mark has always loved to set down clues within his art to help you try and determine the hidden narratives that exist, so these limited edition puzzles are the natural choice as we look to bring his work to a wider audience through exciting and engaging formats. 

    As with every element of his work, the focus has, and always will be on delivering quality, to best represent his art and retain that limited edition quality that is so well respected and successful.

    So, we are excited to offer a beautifully vibrant limited edition, 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle that is proudly made in the UK by a leading specialist manufacturer who's sustainability efforts are a key quality of their business. The standard clear polybag the jigsaws come in is 100% recyclable, their millboard used for the actual jigsaws is 100% recycled, their ink is sourced in the UK and is vegan, and all their paper used in production is Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) paper sourced from FSC & PEFC sources.

    Not bad eh! In addition to this, your jigsaw puzzle is strictly limited to 100 and comes with Mark's hand signed narrative card and certificate of authenticity. Should you wish for the box tray lid to be signed by Mark, this can be done by removing the protective shrink wrapping that each puzzle comes in.

    100% quality, 100% enjoyment!



    1. Released: 2023
    2. Collection: Retrospective 
    3. Edition Size: 100 
    4. Specification:
      - 26" x 20" completed size
      - Made in the United Kingdom
      - Sustainably sourced materials
      - UK sourced, vegan inks
    5. - 100% recycled board 
      - Complete with hand signed narrative card and certificate of authenticity 
    1. Get in touch for overseas delivery
View full product details

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