I create my art primarily to recreate something or somewhere that has captured my imagination, something, which stirs and evokes a strong sense of atmosphere. My art always means something to me personally rather than creating an image that I feel will appeal to others more than myself.

I strive to create things that give me a warming feeling when I gaze at them, something which I myself and hopefully others, can feel a sense of being in the painting, investigating all the nooks and crannies that are in the scene or wanting to walk through a doorway or up a flight of steps.

Atmospheres and lighting inspire me, together with seasonal changes and weather conditions. Shadows and diffused lighting fascinate me, especially when I am trying to recreate texture or a three dimensional effect.

The message I try to convey to the viewer is one of a sense of please lose yourself in the painting, let your mind wander and imagine the sights, sounds and smells in the landscape or streetscape.

Sometimes I spend weeks on paintings, though, more often than not, if inspiration comes to me about a particular scene or image, I work furiously for a couple of days or even a few minutes, constantly criticizing my work, viewing it in a mirror and photographing every stage to analyse and change.

My work is very much a reflection of me. I can be very intense for short bursts, but very dreamy and escapist most of the time.

Most of my artistic influences have produced work that you can very much lose yourself in and let your imagination wander. The vivid seasonal contrasts and photographic quality of the Victorian artist Joseph Farquharson has been a huge inspiration, together with the simple atmospheric images of David Young Cameron, the sweeping imagery of Turner, the wonderful brushwork of impressionists such as Pissaro and Sisley and the light and shadow of the street scenes of the Czech artist Jiři Vále¨

My philosophy is that art should mean something to the creator, primarily and there is no greater skill than creating an image that can captivate an audience, which is why I hold my artistic influences in such high regard and would always be striving to create work that people can feel that they are part of.

I tend to have two techniques that I mainly employ, working with acrylic I tend to be more rigid in my brushwork, adding finer detail, often with soft pastel until I am happy the effect I am trying to create, with oil I work more freely and often try to complete an image in a matter of hours, sometimes mixing both oil and acrylic.
Working in this way I can produce a number of paintings in a short space of time but it is the more reserved, ponderous approach in acrylics that lie closer to my philosophy of producing images closer to my aims and inspirations, with greater detail and depth. Sometimes these paintings can provide much frustration, almost to the point of admitting defeat, before forcing myself to work on another project or take a complete break, returning with fresh eyes and mind to continue until I achieve something that I am (almost) content with.

Mark Davies, September 2008.
www.landscapes-art.co.uk