SEE ALL THE PENNINES PAINTINGS FROM THE LINK IN THE MENU  ABOVE

5th - 14th September 2026

open daily

Monday to Wednesday - 13:00 to 16:00
Thursday to Sunday - 10:30 to 16:30

PRIVATE VIEW Friday 4th September

RSVP kirkcarriongallery@gmail.com for an invite

Who is Mark Owen?

I’m a plein air painter.

I’ve forgotten how to work in a studio; my practice is exclusively outside on the spot observation. Nothing is added to the paintings in the studio except varnish and a frame. Working outside in the landscape carrying multiple large and small canvases and boards though trees, over fences and down paths or in urban environments dodging traffic, negotiating public transport with large wet paintings and meeting friendly and interested passers by, my approach is the same: in all weathers, looking and responding and looking again. 

I hope my work balances the decorative surface with an edge that has a suggestion of meaning and a question. My inspiration is diverse and always changing, from the power of large Rothko canvases to the acutely observed children’s illustration of Shirley Hughes, from generative digital pieces of Manfred Mohr to the depictions of everyday life of The Hague School, the enigmatic representations of late 20th century UK estates of Andrew Torr to the rich sparkling surfaces of Andrew Gifford’s forests, hedgerows and meadows.

I’m really enjoying exploring the North Pennines, an area I hadn’t visited since family caravan holidays as a child. In particular I have become fascinated by sunlight on the water both in still, shady pools and the dynamic power of the waterfalls, all so prominent on my recent visits. They provide a counterpoint to the more gritty urban scenes also on view here. While the subject matter is different the paintings are clearly mine, held together by the process of working outside 

At heart an artist, since art school alongside my painting, I have sandwiched in a career in product design, electronic art, graphic design and more recently teaching in University. I’m now able to give more time and energy to painting firmly rooted outside in on the spot observation.

Im really grateful to the Weardale Plein Air Festival and the KirkCarrion Gallery for the opportunity to show the twin threads of my work together here in Middleton.

OUTSIDE - everything in the show is 100% painted plein air in front of the subject 

OUTSIDE - having lived in London for 40 years my interpretation of the pennine landscape is from outside and is the view of a city dweller

OUTSIDE - Mark paints with rigour and commitment and a slightly twisted outlook that puts him outside a conventional plein air approach

1982 - 85

Royal Academy Schools, RA Schools Diploma Fine Art (painting)

1981 - 82

Grimsby School of Art ,Art Foundation

1985 - 87

Chelsea School of Art, HNDProduct Design

2006 - 08

Middlesex University, MA Electronic Arts

2026

OutsideInside - 5 artist group show, 340 gallery (outsideinside.art) 

New English Art Club - Mall Galleries

Well Hung Painting Prize exhibition 

One Day in May - Spirit Studios, Suffolk

Chelsea Art Society Exhibition - Kings Road

Feldon Valley Hotel and Lodges near Banbury

Broadway Arts Festival

Painswick Rococo Gardens

 

2025

Society of Graphic Fine Artists - Mall Galleries

Works on Paper - the Gallery at Green and Stone, London SW3

New English Art Club - Mall Galleries

The Beach Gallery - group show, Teddington

Urban Sketchers London Exhobition - Mile End London E3

Webbs Fine Art Gallery - Clapham

Last Supper Gallery - Clapham

Byrne Contemporary - West Sussex

Plein Air Open - Rye Gallery, East Sussex

Soho Open - GPS Gallery, Great Pulteney Street London W1

Royal Institute of Oil Painters - Mall Galleries

 

2026

Chelsea Arts Society / London Plein Air competition - overall winner

Picture This Plein Air Competition at Watts Chapel, Compton - overall winner

Painswick Rococo Gardens Plein Air Competition - Highly commended 

Weardale Plein Air Festival - Solo exhibition prize winner

 

2025

Painswick Rococo Gardens Plein Air Competition - overall winner

Lansdowne Estate Gloucester Plein Air competition - winner best traditional painting

Gloucester Art in the City Plein Air competition - 3rd prize

Richmond Artist of the Year

Spirit of Malvern Plein Air Competition - best urbanscape