Primarily self-taught, Mark was first encouraged by a primary school art teacher who saw his innate ability and urged him to develop his own signature style. His style has been shaped by the influence of many American artists, such as the Hudson River School Artists, Frederic Church and Thomas Cole, as well as the early California Impressionists.

He toured many American galleries searching for techniques and palettes and found inspiration in the great masterpieces of Europe, especially in Paris. While strong in his admiration for these great works, he returned repeatedly to ‘the power of simplicity." In this artistic simplicity, he has gained an army of collectors and admirers for his "natural" look of the American countryside whether it be the teepees of the Plains Indians or the nostalgic barns of rural California.

While winning many honors at shows and exhibitions, one of his most recent recognitions was being selected as part of the Red Book Collections (The California Collection) published in the October 1996 issue of Southwest Art. Also Mark was honored as winner of the "People’s Choice Award" at the Night Walker 97 Annual National Juried Art Exhibition/Competition, August 1997, at Ft. Collins, Colorado. Mark is a member of the Oil Painters of America.