Mark Burrell
Mark Burrell (b. 1957) is a British Artist, born and resident in Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK. He spent a year during his childhood in Libya. Returning to Lowestoft he studied art at Lowestoft College but considers himself self-taught.
Burrell has won numerous prizes for his art including winning the Lucy Morrison Memorial Prize. His work has also featured in books and in magazines, including illustrations for 'The Iron Bridge' by John Ward. He is also conjointly with Peter Rodulfo a leading member of the North Sea Magical Realists.
Critical appraisal
In a career now spanning several decades, Burrell has exhibited his paintings throughout East Anglia, London, and the US, receiving much critical acclaim, including the following -
- Burrell's work is obsessive and probing, revealing underlying elements that question ones sense of self. A psychotic surrealism that is a refreshing assault on ritualised aesthetics [1]
- The paintings by Mark Burrell convey rare command of a very peculiar and very English painter, for Mark is essentially a story teller who employs pigment rather than words to construct allegories, fables and fictions. His fantastic narratives are as much concerned with plot, setting and character as they are with line space and colour.[2]
- …(His) paintings are colourful and often very personal, and at times very mysterious indeed, these paintings can be looked at again and again, there are touches of humour as well as the darker side of life, from strange green beings growing out of bushes, communing with ghosts, to sheep in fields flying.[3]
- Mark paints symbolist figurative oils with psychic, religious or political themes, often dealing with intense states of mind or emotion, a highly patterned world in beautiful states of decay. [4]
- His work has a visionary quality to it, which embraces deep rich colours of mysterious blues through to purples. The pictures come to life through delicate lighting whether it is a full moon, sunset, or from some magical source.
Media appearances
Burrell has frequently appeared on British TV including-
- * Anglia Television Programme: 'Coastal Inspiration's' Interviewed in the artists studio with work exhibited: Series on Lowestoft
- * BBC 2 TV Programme: Matter of Fact Cabbage Patch War (Nov 1996)
- * Anglia Television: 'The Front Row' Paintings Exhibited: Presented by Shaun Meo: November 1995
- * Anglia Television: 'Moving Art' Awarded First Prize. Presenter George Melly, interviewed by Sister Wendy Beckett and prize awarded by Bill Oddie: November 1991
- * Anglia Television: personal Interview and paintings exhibited: August 1991
- * Mustard TV: Work shown in documentary 'Bendy Caravans and Everlasting Pens written and produced by Nick Murray-Brown http://www.nickmurraybrown.co.uk/film.htm
Exhibitions
2020
- Chappel Galleries, Essex: New Year Selection
2019
- Chappel Galleries, Essex: Solo Exhibition
- Easterly Artists: Lowestoft Heritage week, Suffolk: Mixed Exhibition
- Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Artist studio open to public
- Easterly Artists, Britten Centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Mixed Exhibition
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: The Four Marks: Four Man Show and video interview
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Resident Artist
- Beccles Public Hall: Documentary Film ‘Bendy Caravans’ shown to the public =====
2018
- Skippings Gallery, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk: Two Man Exhibition Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Artist studio open to public Ferini Art Gallery Suffolk: Resident Artist
2017
- Tripp Gallery London: The North Sea Magical Realists: Three Man Exhibition
- Buckingham Gallery, Southwold, Suffolk
- Open Studios: Artist studio open to public
- Ferini Art Gallery Suffolk: Resident Artist
2016
- Buckingham Gallery, Southwold
- Suffolk Open Studios: Artist studio open to public
- Ferini Art Gallery Suffolk: Resident Artist
2015
- Craft Co Art Gallery, Southwold, Suffolk: Two Person Exhibition Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Resident Artist Open Studios: Artist studio open to public
2014
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Solo Exhibition with video interview
- Suffolk Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Resident Artist
- The Coconut Loft Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Opening Exhibition
- Great Yarmouth Library, Norfolk: Two Man Exhibition with Peter Rodulfo
2013
- Assembly House Art Show: Arts Alive Norwich, Norfolk
2012
- West Halls Secret Postcard Auction: Patron, Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge
- Other exhibitors included the Prime Minister David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Twiggy, Maggi Hambling, Bernard Hill, and Tessa Newcomb.
2011
- Assembly House Art Show: Flying Colours Fascinating Forms, Norwich Playhouse, Norfolk: Two Man Exhibition Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Summer Show
2010
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Christmas Show
- Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
2008
- Norwich Castle Museum: Open Art Show: Chosen by William Boyer (Royal Academy), Benjamin Sullivan (Royal Portrait Society) and Peter Brown (N.E.A.C) Open Studios, Suffolk: Artist studio open to public The Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk: Drawings and Paintings, accompanied by excerpts from the Poem ‘The Iron Bridge’, Written by John Ward. Ferini Art Gallery Lowestoft, Suffolk: Three Man Exhibition The Cut Halesworth, Suffolk: Christmas Show Prize Winner of ‘The People’s Choice’
2007
- The Cut Halesworth, Suffolk: Christmas Art Show’ Prize Winner of ’The People’s Choice’
2006
- Exhibited at ‘The House of Commons
- Anglia Television: Part of the series ‘Coastal Inspirations’ filmed in Lowestoft Suffolk, Interviewed on Television and Work Exhibited
2005
- Ferini Art Gallery, Suffolk: Drawings and paintings created for ‘The Iron Bridge’ book by John Ward The Warehouse, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Summer Show The forum, Norwich, Norfolk: ‘Norwich Market’ Drawings exhibited Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Artist studio open to public Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
2004
- Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- ‘The Iron Bridge’ book. ‘Drawings and paintings’ by Mark Burrell: Author, John Ward
2003
- Cork Street Gallery, London Seachange Gallery, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk: Solo Exhibition Interart Gallery, New York, USA Galleriart – Kirkcudbright, Scotland Williamsburg Historical Art Centre, New York, USA
2001
- Galerie de Vis Noorderhaven, Holland
- Gissing Hall, Gissing ‘Portrait Works’
- The Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Blackthorpe Barn, Roughman
- The New Wosley Theatre, Ipswich
- The John Russell Gallery, Ipswich
2000
- The Eastern Open, Kings Lynn
- Open Studios, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Halesworth Gallery, Suffolk
- Yoxford Gallery, Yoxford
- Electric House Gallery, Ipswich
- Buckingham Galleries, Southwold
- The Affordable Art Fair, London
- Galerie de Vis Noorderhaven, Holland
- The Mall Galleries, London 'The Discerning Eye'
- Geneva Gallery – Lowestoft, Suffolk
1999
- Chappell Galleries, Essex: Solo Exhibition Work Exhibited in Holland
- Lowestoft Town Hall, The Council Chambers, Suffolk
- Suffolk Open Studios: Artist studio open to public
- The Red Dot Gallery, Ipswich, Suffolk
- Artists Gallery, Electric House, Ipswich, Suffolk
- The Yoxford Gallery, Suffolk
- Cottons Yard Gallery, Yoxford, Suffolk
- Halesworth Gallery, Steeple End, Suffolk
- Old Stable Gallery Diss, Norfolk
- Raphael Gallery, Suffolk: Opening Exhibition
- Open Studios Lowestoft Suffolk: Artist studio open to public
- Chappell Galleries, Essex
- Artexpo, New York, U.S.A
1998
- Chappell Galleries, Essex: Solo Exhibition
- Lowestoft Library, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- The Yoxford Gallery, Yoxford
- Cottons Yard Gallery, Yoxford
- Halesworth Gallery, Steeple End
- Old Stable Gallery, Diss, Suffolk
- Raphael Gallery Open Studios
1997
- The Minories Art Gallery, Colchester, Essex
- The LAING, National Art Competition, Raveningham, Norfolk
- The Eastern Open, Kings Lynn Arts Centre, Norfolk
- St Margaret’s Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk Works of the Imagination (Contemporary Figurative Exhibition)
- Chappell Galleries, Essex
1996
- Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, Norfolk Arts Centre, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Various Dimensions
- The Advice Arcade Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk: Summer Exhibition
- Gallery, St George’s Street, Norwich, Norfolk
- Regent Road Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Arts Forum
- Halesworth Gallery, Steeple End, Suffolk
1995
- Le Chat, Noir Gallery, Mayfair, London Logos Art Gallery, Bloomsbury, London
- Mall Galleries ‘The Discerning Eye’ London
- Regent Road Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Art Forum
- Norwich Castle Museum, Norwich, Norfolk
1994
- Eastern Open, Kings Lynn Arts Centre, Norfolk: Painting Highly Commended
- Regent Road Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Solo Exhibition
- The Corpusty Gallery, Norfolk: Three-Person Exhibition
- The Spectator, 7th National Award
- The Fruit market Gallery, Edinburgh
- Sotheby’s: New Bond Street, London
1993
- Contact Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk, The Human Condition: Three-Person Exhibition
- Regent Road Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Arts Forum
- Chappel Galleries, Essex: Summer Exhibition
- Gallery 12, B Fredrikstad, Norway
- Boundary Gallery, Cransfield, Suffolk
- Gallery 44, Aldeburgh, Suffolk: Solo Exhibition
- Castle Museum, Norwich, Norfolk: Norfolk Art Now
1992
- Mall Galleries, London: Wilde Contemporary Art The Splinter Gallery, London: Painters Today Boundary Gallery, Cransfield, Suffolk: Summer/Autumn Exhibition The Gallery, 74 South Audley Street, London Regent Road Art Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk Chappel Galleries, Essex Cork Brick Gallery, Bungay, Suffolk: Christmas Exhibition Chappel Galleries, Essex: Christmas Exhibition
1991
- Eastern Open, Kings Lynn Arts Centre, Norfolk Boundary Gallery, Cransford, Suffolk – Easter Exhibition
- The Picture Place, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Eastern Arts – Open Studio
- Chappel Galleries, Essex Royal Over Seas League, London: ‘A View of the New Exhibition: Lucy Morison Memorial Prize’ awarded for an Oil Painting
- Norwich Artists Group, Norfolk
- Kings Lynn Art Centre, Norfolk
- Norfolk and Norwich Festival: Open Studio
- Boundary Gallery, Suffolk. Summer Exhibition and Christmas Show
- The Splinter Gallery, London
1990
- Regent Road Gallery, Lowestoft, Suffolk Chappel Galleries, Essex: Solo Exhibition
- Centre d’Art Contemporain, Rouen, France
- The Knapp Gallery, London
- The Halesworth Gallery, Suffolk
- Norwich School of Art, Norwich, Norfolk: Norwich Artists
- Boundary Gallery, Suffolk: Summer Exhibition
- The School House Gallery, Norfolk
1989
- Eastern Open: The Fermoy Gallery, Kings Lynn
- Norfolk Contact Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk: An Intensity of Vision
- Castle Museum, Norwich, Norfolk: Art Now
- Norwich School of Art, Norwich, Norfolk: Norwich Artists
- Chappel Galleries, Essex: Summer Exhibition
- Advice Arcade Gallery, Norwich, Norfolk
- Norwich 20 Group, Norwich, Norfolk
- Art Auction Centre, Norwich Union Headquarters, Norfolk: In Aid of Third World
1988
- Mall Galleries, London: Britain's Painters
- Central Library, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Christie’s Assembly Rooms, Norwich
- Norfolk: Cley mill Appeal
1987
- The Royal Academy, London: Summer Exhibition
Links
'Masks and Layers' a portrait of Mark Burrell by Ferini Films
Mark Burrells 'The Homing-ground' - All aboard the British transcendent locomotion.
Mark Burrell: North Sea Magical Realist artist extraordinaire
Nick Murray Brown Talking about The Iron Bridge and various news reels
References
- East Anglian Daily Times December 2000
- Images Magazine 1990 by Tony Collins, Head of School of Art and Design, Lowestoft College, Suffolk
- Eastern Daily Press, Arts Review
- Wilde Contemporary Art, The Mall Galleries, London