Heavy Rainbows

An extraordinarily true-life account of a left-handed forklift truck driver who, after a catastrophic life changing accident, became a right-handed professional artist. Heavy Rainbows conveys an honest, no frills autobiographical account of how a single unforeseen event completely changed the direction of Mark’s entire life, and the subsequent adventures that followed involving devastating lows and euphoric highs that are unique, engaging, and inspirational.

Firsthand experiences and events that influenced Mark’s development as a person are told chronologically, culminating in a collection of artworks that convey powerful emotionally charged contemporary issues such as global warming, mental health, and animal welfare. Each chapter incorporates humour and satire, that contrast with episodes of dark, life changing experiences, offering the reader a thought-provoking unpretentious slice of reality, underpinned by art, to convey an in-depth personal story involving triumph over adversity.

Mark was born in 1963 in the bathroom of a suburban semi-detached house in Liverpool, where he grew up with his parents and brother, spending several years working in what he describes as ‘dead-end jobs’, before moving to London during the 1980s.

Mark loved the hectic lifestyle of London – a place where he met his beautiful wife, Lynne, and after their first son was born, Mark settled into life based around routine employed as a forklift driver until, somewhat ironically, a life-changing accident gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion in art, graduating with a BA hons degree at the University of East London in 2000. He has since sold artwork in conjunction with themed exhibitions focusing on contemporary issues such as animal welfare and global warming.

In recent years, Mark has concentrated on teaching, incorporating art into English lessons to help students with special needs gain nationally recognised qualifications. During the Covid pandemic, he returned to his old friend art and is now showcasing and selling work on media platforms such as Fine Art America and Art-Pal.