Artist Bio – Mark Jones, Hampshire Printmaker
Hampshire-based artist and printmaker Mark Jones creates contemporary linocut prints and paintings inspired by suburban life, walking, and local history. His artwork reflects themes of place, memory, and community connection, often featuring recurring motifs such as dog walkers, neighbourhood streets, and everyday scenes that capture the rhythm of British community life.
With a background in Fine Art painting, printmaking, and sculpture, Mark has worked across pottery, display design, and education before returning to focus fully on his own creative practice. Today, he produces distinctive linocut prints and original paintings, blending research with lived experience. Each artwork evolves through an intuitive process of sketching, carving, and inking, where experimentation and chance play a central role.
Mark draws daily inspiration from the Hampshire countryside and Winchester cityscape, gathering ideas while walking, cycling, and observing the landscape around him. Influences also come from galleries, films, books, and creative conversations with artists and students. His work has been exhibited nationally, and in 2026 he will showcase a new body of work at The Arc, Winchester.
If you’d like to stay updated with Mark Jones’ upcoming exhibitions, limited-edition linocut prints, and behind-the-scenes insights into his creative process, you can sign up for his newsletter for exclusive news and offers
5 Questions with Mark Jones – Hampshire Artist & Printmaker
1. Tell me about you and your work
I trained in Fine Art painting and sculpture, and over the years I’ve worked in pottery, designed display stands, and later became a full-time teacher in further education. Teaching has been a big part of my creative journey, but alongside it I’ve always made my own art. Today, I focus mainly on paintings and linocut prints, which I also sell online and at exhibitions. My work explores place, memory, and everyday life, often drawing inspiration from the Hampshire landscape and community scenes.
2. What is the most enjoyable thing about what you do?
In teaching, the most rewarding part is helping others develop their own artistic voice. In my own practice, I genuinely enjoy the entire creative process—drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpting—each discipline feeding into the other. I particularly enjoy researching and experimenting, but what excites me most is the challenge of capturing the essence of a subject in a way that feels fresh and authentic.
3. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Much of my inspiration comes from being outdoors in the Hampshire countryside—walking the dog, cycling, or simply observing the landscape. I’m also influenced by galleries, films, books, and documentaries. Conversations are equally important: talking with friends, fellow artists, and students often sparks new ideas. These interactions, combined with daily encounters in my surroundings, help shape my linocut prints and paintings.
4. How do you start a piece?
I usually begin with drawing. Even quick sketches or playful methods—like making a continuous line drawing from memory with my eyes closed—can spark a new idea. I enjoy incorporating chance into my process because it keeps the work spontaneous and dynamic. If I know exactly what a piece will look like before I start, I lose interest; I thrive on the element of surprise as a work evolves.
5. Why do you make art?
For me, making art is a necessity—it’s both a habit and a passion. I love the challenge of creating, the sense of discovery, and the learning that comes with every painting or print. I don’t always know where a piece will end up, but that’s part of the excitement. Art is a way to express myself, connect with place and memory, and continue exploring. The process is addictive, and I feel restless if I’m not making something new
CV
Exhibitions
2025
Landscape Open Salisbury Museum
Ironbridge Printmaking Competition 2025 Telford
Boorley Green Community Centre Public Art commission.
Winchester Print Fair, The Nutshell.
Society of Graphic Fine Arts 104th Annual Open. Mall Galleries, London.
Society of Wood Engravers 87th Annual Touring Exhibition. Bankside Gallery, London. Make Southwest, Bovey Tracey. Kirkby Gallery, Kirkby. The North Wall, Oxford. Zillah Bell, Thirsk. Linocut printmaking demonstration at Bankside Gallery.
2024
Winchester Christmas Print Fair, The Nutshell.
Omega Printmakers Exhibition, Jack House Gallery, Portsmouth
Bath Open Art Exhibition
Small But Mighty Open. Bankside Gallery, London
Small Wonders. Jack House Gallery, Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth, Library showcase
Winchester Print Fair
Society of Graphic Fine Arts 103rd Annual Open. Mall Galleries
Royal Society of British Artists Open. Mall Galleries
University of Portsmouth, Business Enterprise Showcase
Society of Wood Engravers 86th Annual Touring Exhibition. Bankside Gallery, London. Northern Print, Newcastle. The Barn, Banchory. Frames Gallery, Perth. The North Wall, Oxford. Zillah Bell, Thirsk. Linocut printmaking demonstration at Bankside Gallery
2023
Small But Mighty Open. Bankside Gallery, London
Festive Makers Market. The Arc, Winchester
Atelier Beside the Sea Open. Brighton
Wayzgoose Print Fair. Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. London
Winchester Print Fair
St Barbes Open. Lymington, Hampshire
Society of Wood Engravers 85th Annual Touring Exhibition Bankside Gallery, London. Museum in the Park, Stroud. Sea Pictures, Clare, Suffolk. Frames Gallery, Perth. The North Wall, Oxford. Zillah Bell Gallery, Thirsk.
Teeside Transitions 17 Print Prize
2022
Press Play Print table top Fair. Brighton
RBSA Art Prize Open. Birmingham
Wayzgoose Print Fair. Brockenhurst, New Forest
Oxmarket Open. Chichester
Atelier Beside the Sea Open. Brighton
Southampton City Gallery Open
2021 Teeside Transitions 17 Print Prize
2020 Southampton City Gallery Open
2018 Southampton City Gallery Open
2016 Southampton City Gallery Open
2015 Bespoked. Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Awards
2025 Associate member Society of Graphic Fine Art
2024 Uncommon Club Creative Business support scholarship
1995 Highly commended. Bayer Earth Art, Mall Galleries, London.
Coopers and Lybrand Major Award Manchester Academy of Fine Arts Open.
3rd Prize. Grosvenor Museum Open, Chester
1994 Shortlisted 2D Award. Drumcroon Open, Wigan.
Public Collections
2024 University of Portsmouth Library, Portsmouth, UK
2023 Two prints featured in Zinoloci, Issue 1, Guilt & Shame:
Zine Collection, Library & Archive, Tate Britain, London,
Contemporary British Publishing, The British Library, London, UK
Library and Learning Resources, Glasgow School of Art
J. Watson Library, Zine Collection, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, USA
2001 The Royal Oldham Hospital,
New Wing opened by HRH King Charles lll
Two large Amphitheatre Paintings
2000 The Oldham College - large Amphitheatre painting donated.
Research projects
1996 - 1999 Variations on The Large Glass Chocolate Grinder: A practical study of Marcel Duchamp’s manipulation of perspective.
2000 Toutfait Marcel Duchamp Studies online journal
https://www.toutfait.com/variations-on-the-large-glasss-chocolate-grinder/
Presentations
1999 Variations on Marcel Duchamp’s Large Glass Chocolate Grinder at:
Harvard University, Boston. USA. University of Wolverhampton, UK. University of Huddersfield. UK. Oldham College, UK. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Education
2022 - 2024 University of Portsmouth. MA Illustration Degree, (Printmaking) Distinction
1994 - 1995 University of Manchester, PGCE (adult and further education)
1992 - 1994 Leeds Metropolitan University, MA Art & Design Degree, (Painting)
1979 - 1982 Loughborough College of Art & Design BA Fine Art Honours Degree (Sculpture) 1st Class
1978 - 1979 Chester School of Art. Art Foundation Diploma
Employment
2021 - present. Artist Printmaker
2012 - 2020 Peter Symonds College, Winchester. Head of Art
2000 - 2012 Itchen College, Southampton. Learning Area Manager Art & Design
1989 - 2000 Oldham College. Art & Design Lecturer
1983 - 1989 David Hilton Tableware. Ceramic technician
1982 - 1983 The London Bicycle Co. Sales & mechanic