Mark’s visual performances stem back to a simpler time when Manchester buzzed with sounds from Fat City and hip-hop was making a return journey. He was studying interactive arts and together with his college mate Andy Seaton they began developing club visuals with Grand Central Records.

In 2001 a little known band Elbow had released their first LP – Asleep In The Back. Mark had been working with them to document their every move since 1999. From their early days at The Roadhouse where Mark provided visuals via slide projectors and a few cini-projectors and through to the making of the Red and Any Day Now video’s, which Mark directed along with andy, to the recent fully interactive limited edition DVD that featured work from the last four years, Mark encapsulating the rise and success of Guy Garvey and the boys.

“The band just trust him and let him get closer than any other
photographer,” confirms Phil, Elbow’s manager.

“I do a lot of documentary stuff with the band. I’ve done web diaries and Quicktimes for the web with links to mags. I like to use a cross-section of that (documentary) and more specific animation for a DVD or whatever. I’d hate to be pigeonholed into just doing pop videos”

I guess that’s the dream of any creative designer or filmmaker, but the reality is that most just aren’t good enough with a free licence. Luckily Mark is and that didn’t go un-noticed by the British Council who earmarked the adopted Manchester lad for the Sensurround Manchester – a tour of music visuals by Manchester designers taking in unlikely places like Bombay, Caracas, Venezuela and Cape Town.

Mark was invited to work with ITF world champion DJ Woody, DJ Asif and vocalist Veba to put together a show that was both sonically and visually stunning.

“Although we had things we’d prepared, the show was never the same. We toured with two massive screens. In Venezuela we only had one (screen) and it was outside, so we projected onto this building, which worked great for that space. The Cape Town venue was this industrial iron works and in India we used this Bollywood studio”

On the tour Mark met Steal-Life regular Mike England and hit it off. They went out shooting together nearly every day. They shared influences and even shot some of the same things.

“It just worked, Mike had some similar influences to me. We went out shooting together and ended up practically getting the same footage”

Since the tour Mike and Mark have been collaborating. Alice Cicolini from the British Council recalls “It’s great how two designers who are so different can work out a common ground”

“With Mike it’s been easy, we’re gritty versus clean. I want to move to Barcelona soon and I have this idea to document Manchester and Barcelona. Interviewing people and overlay that with moods from each place. I’d like to collaborate with Mike using still and moving images, documentary style, using the multi-channel possibilities of dvd as a final result.”

Wow!

In the mean time Mark will be going on tour with Elbow around Australia and may even get the chance to work with them on a Cuban gig! Not bad work before you relocate to Mancelona.

http://www.soupcollective.co.uk
http://www.britishcouncil.com/
http://www.futuresonic.com