Mark Demsteader was born in 1963 in Manchester and still lives and works there. After growing up in its meat market and absorbing the details of bone, form and skin there, he studied for a foundation degree at Rochdale College and Oldham College, but is largely self taught, having spent many years studying the human figure at life drawing classes and developing his unique style. He took up a postgraduate position at the Slade School of Art in London and, after finishing that, was represented by a far-sighted gallery in Greenwich which immediately sold six of his paintings. The Telegraph recently labelled him one of Britain’s best-selling figurative painters.
Mark`s powerful renditions of the female form in clean, confident lines have sparked a renewal of interest in traditional life drawing amongst art collectors. His technical ability is tempered by the natural sensitivity with which he portrays each subject. Each isolated figure seems to live and breathe, their expression and poise conveying a sense of an intriguing story that invites the viewer to ask more questions about them than the artist answers.
In June 2011, Mark worked with Harry Potter... actress and fashion muse, Emma Watson, producing a collection of portraits to coincide with her 21st birthday. He has been widely and favourably reviewed, for example in the Guardian and Telegraph, and his rising international career is now spreading into Japan. Mark’s drawings have won several awards, including The Lyceum Prize and The Sidney Andrews Scholarship.
