Mark Fennell RBSA

#portraitsfornhsheroes at Piccadilly Circus

Chuffed to have my portrait of nurse Megan up on the massive billboard at Piccadilly Circus with all the other artists on the cover of Artists Talk magazine.

Mall galleries Award Winning Artists exhibition

As one of this years award winning artists some of my work is up for sale on Mall galleries Award Winning Artists online exhibition. Also it was a nice surprise to see my painting - Knockout featured in the Mall Galleries email.

Artist talk magazine front cover

My portrait of nurse Megan for #portraitsfornhsheroes has made it onto the front cover of Artist talk magazine. Thanks to @Tomcroft

#portraitsfornhsheroes

Here’s my second portrait for #portraitsfornhsheroes. I challenged myself by painting Katy just with palette knifes. I painted her portrait as part of the #portraitsfornhsheroes initiative created by fellow Oxford art society member and painter friend Tom Croft.

Katy's experience her own words.
“I’m a theatre recovery nurse. I qualified as a nurse in 2012 working first at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and later the BMI. During the full-on Covid period both NHS and private hospitals dedicated themselves to the common Covid struggle. The private sector was contracted to the NHS. I did a number of long shifts in an area designated for Covid patients with “hot and cold” areas - an off shoot of ITU. I also had informal caring responsibilities to my every father (recently widowed), whilst trying to socially distance.”

#portraitsfornhsheroes
My portrait for #portraitsfornhsheroes got a little feature in the Bucks Herald and Vale life magazine i was also intervied on Three Counties Radio.
Portrait of nurse Megan Woodman, painted as part of Oxford art society member Tom Croft’s brilliant idea #portraitsfornhsheroes.
Megan works at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London and has been nursing for only a year and a half. She was transfered to the ITU unit during the Covid19 pandemic.
If you would like to nominate an NHS Hero to be painted, sign into Instagram and search the hashtag #portraitsfornhsheroes to find an artist.

#portraitsfornhsheroes  

Megan works as a nurse at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London and has been nursing for only a year and a half. She was transfered to the ITU unit during the Covid19 pandemic. I painted her portrait as part of the #portraitsfornhsheroes initiative created by fellow Oxford art society member and painter friend Tom Croft.

Megan’s experience her own words.

I felt very lucky that I had worked in a medical ward and had recent surgical experience before being transferred to ITU during the covid pandemic as both areas intertwined in the high level of care- but was still surprised by how different it felt to any experiences I’ve had through training and qualification. 

As someone who enjoys chatting with patients it felt very strange to be looking after someone and not know what their voice sounded like. The dissonant sound of countless beeps, hums and drones from the equipment in the room almost became the patients voice whilst they couldn’t use their own- alerting to when something is wrong and reassuring when things improve. 

My overwhelming feeling of working in ITU during the pandemic was gratitude for the nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and other fantastic members of the healthcare team. I continually saw colleagues support each other and help with not only the patient during and incredibly scary and difficult period of their life, but also fortifying and providing reassurance to ITU newcomers like myself. 

I’m grateful for my ITU experience, and feel very lucky to have seen so many patients improve and to use their voices again. “

Artists life interview.
I occasionally run art courses at Pegasus art in Stroud and they recently interviewed me for their Artists life blog.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/blog/artist-interviews/artist-life-mark-fennell/

Winner of The Winsor and Newton Painting Award at the 2020 RBA annual exhibition.

Chuffed to bits to be awarded The Winsor and Newton Painting Award at the Royal Society of British Artists annual exhibition.
https://royalsocietyofbritishartists.org.uk/rba-annual-exhibition-2020/

Portrait painting demonstration.
I was very pleased to be invited back to Pinner sketch club again, this time demonstrating portrait painting in oils with painting knives. https://www.pinnersketchclub.co.uk/

The most voted for artist at Bucks art society autumn exhibition.
Very pleased to find that i was voted 1st as the most voted for artist and two of my paintings were jointly voted 2nd for the peoples choice, where the public vote for their favourite work in the Bucks
art society autumn exhibition. https://bucksart.co.uk/

Portrait painting course.
Had a lot of fun teaching a two day self portraiture in oils course at Pure Artwork Studio in Adderbury.
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk

Portrait painting from life demonstration.
I had a fun evening painting Marilyn from life at Wendover art club, with less than 2 hrs to do the job i had work extremely fast.
http://www.wendoverartclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting workshop.
Had a fun day running a portrait painting workshop for Rickmansworth art society.

Oil painting course.
Another fun day teaching beginners oil painting at Pure artworks studio in Banbury.
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk/

The Artist magazine.
Got a nice little feature in The summer edition of the Artist magazine this month.

The society for all artists.
Pleased to have a little tutorial in the July issue of The SAA Paint magazine.

My Chemo self portrait series in the news.
Found myself on another online news site i’ve never heard of!
https://www.real-fix.com/general/artist-diagnosed-with-cancer-produces-incredible-series-of-self-portraits-for-every-week-of-his-chemo/

Vale life magazine.
I’ve got a little a feature on me and my work in the June/July issue of Vale Life magazine.
http://www.vale-life.co.uk

Bucks Art Weeks.
I am delighted to be exhibiting some of my work at Delphine art studio in Thame for the Bucks Art Weeks, from June 9th – June 24th 2018.
Pictured – Roland Muldoon and Joey sat next to my portrait of Roland and Sid.

Art courses.
Had a fun and hard working weekend teaching oil painting at the Henley school of art. Got some great results from some students who had never painted before!

Art courses.
I did this 40 minute demonstration at Master Art Workshops
Painting Characters in Oil or Acrylics class, the eyes were put in later in a 15 minute demo.

April 21st 2018
www.masterartworkshops.com

Art demonstrator.
Had a fun evening demonstrating portrait painting from life in oils at Watford and Bushey art society.

Had a fun weekend teaching portrait painting at The Henley School of Art
www.thehenleyschoolofart.com