Mark Powell Biography

Mark Powell is a London and Brighton-based artist, known for creating impossibly intricate portraits using just a humble Bic Biro. Powell’s anthropological illustrations are motivated by the individuals who inspire him, and the people he has met while on the road.

For his canvas, the artist uses found antique documents, including maps and letters dating as far back as the 18^th century. Powell incorporates his subjects into the existing details of the documents, using creases, marks and typography to add depth and texture, creating pieces infused with a real sense of story.

Powell reveals: ‘Each face I choose to draw has to have character and a suggestion of a history to tell. That way the viewer can create any narrative of a life that may have been lived.'