Mark Thompson

Sweden-based artist Mark Thompson creates atmospheric oil paintings that capture moments in memories and the remnants of the past. Focusing primarily on landscapes and architecture, Mark works in a monochrome palette to create nostalgic imaginings that have a photographic quality to them. By filtering down memories, and distilling them into one final image, Mark holds onto fleeting moments and injects them with a heavy sense of melancholy.

Mark Thompson’s Education and Career

Mark was born in Peterborough in 1972 and attended the Slade School of Fine Art before moving to live and work in Sweden. Mark has had residencies in both Norway and the UK, and shows his work in permanent collections across the UK, the US and Sweden. His solo shows have spanned throughout Europe, and he frequently exhibits in Germany and Belgium, as well as Sweden and the UK.

Inspiration and Success

Mark sees drawing as an integral part of his practice, as it cements his whole process. The act of mark making connects Mark to each of his canvases before he goes on to create his paintings. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Agnew Martin, Anselm Keifer and Gerhard Richter, Mark does not limit his influences to painting, and looks to photographers such as Thomas Joshua Cooper, Hiroshi Sugimoto and Sally Mann when developing his practice. Over the past two decades, Mark has been awarded several prizes for his unique artistic approach, from The Villiers David Award to The Gilchrist Fisher Award.