About Me

Mark Mason has been tutoring adults and children at forge cottage art club since April 2012.
Mark started a career in art when he started a wedding stationery business 1997. Producing artworks showing wedding venues across Kent, churches, stately homes and castles were drawn to be printed on various wedding stationery cards.
Mark moved to the Sierra del Segura in Spain to start an art activity holiday business tutoring adults Plein air painting courses in the mountains. Mark also had a spell of teaching in a school in Spain and when he returned in 2007 he worked in two schools before deciding to start his art club with support from Alison.
Firstly a run down old forge in the garden had to be transformed into a studio with kitchen area and toilet. Mark worked for over a year on the studio using his carpentry skills from his earlier years of working with his father Richard who was a carpenter. Mark built a new roof for the studio added raised floors and readied the building for plastering. Along with other craftsmen windows were added and finally in April 2012 the studio was ready to open.
The art club first started with just five children on a Saturday afternoon. The idea was an immediate success and over the following months the art club grew. More and more children joined so extra classes were added and then adult classes were added.
Another studio was built for Alison’s Theatrical makeup business and this studio is often used for extra all day workshop classes during the holidays.
Over the years the Mark has added other art themed classes and fundays including children’s birthday parties, corporate team building art days and bespoke private commissioned ‘Paint- Along’ art days for art lovers. On top of this Mark frequently visits schools to do art workshops.
Mark is not only a teacher but a fine-art artist and has exhibited his paintings in galleries around Kent and most recently had a painting entered into The Turner Contemporary.
Mark’s classes are very popular as they are informal and fun, many children enjoy his teaching methods which help them to learn many techniques in a friendly atmosphere. Music is enjoyed whilst painting and there is hot chocolate and cookies at break time.