Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards is a British artist celebrated for his distinctive surrealist vision, deeply influenced by the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Born in 1951, he studied at Medway College of Art and Walthamstow College of Art in London before choosing a more independent path, teaching drawing and exhibiting locally. In 1974, he and his wife Sally moved to a remote cottage on Loch Hope, Sutherland, where the solitude allowed him to develop his unique artistic voice.

Edwards’ early work focused on the lives of rural Scots, but in 2007 he embarked on the transformative “White Wood” series, inspired by a 1950s photograph of a man in a bowler hat. These surreal paintings depict solitary men in snowy forests, evoking mystery, introspection, and narrative depth. The series has been widely exhibited across the UK and internationally, establishing Edwards as a modern master of British surrealism.

Alongside his fine art, Edwards has a notable career as an illustrator, creating book covers for authors including Kingsley Amis, Beryl Bainbridge, Michael Morpurgo, and Philip Pullman. Today, he continues to live and work in the Scottish Highlands, expanding his exploration of solitude, memory, and the poetic potential of landscape through his ongoing series.