About Mark

Born in Blackburn in 1965, Mark Hicken has devoted his entire life to his creative impulses and talent.

Now, living and working in the West Midlands, Mark has launched his new web site, along with his new studio – Sensual 65.

Why Sensual 65? Well, as that was the year he was born, and as he essentially paints the elegant, beautiful and sensual – it seemed to make sense.

As primarily an artist, but occasionally a photographer – he tells us that the quote that best represents his approach is:

“Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?” – Pablo Picasso.

When asked why Mark chose painting, he tells us:

“My entire life has been a creative journey, ever growing, changing and developing. Painting has, over the years, become by far the best medium for me to express my creative nature.”

Inspiration – what makes Mark “tick”?

“I have been fortunate enough to have had a fantastic career in design, and worked with some amazing people – but eventually, I knew that I had to follow my heart, and move away from design only, in order to create for myself.

For me, just about anything can be termed an ‘inspiration’ – whether it be a beautiful woman, an amazing sunset, a fabulous animal or the sweet smile of my daughter Becky.

I simply find that I see these things, I see them painted and am compelled to get the image onto canvas”

The studio is Sensual 65, so what do you paint?

“If I am painting for myself to satisfy my need, and to present to the world a finished painting from my brushes, then I will always favour a beautiful, elegant and sensual image.

I’ll see a story in a corner of either one of my own photographs or one of a colleague, that story will ‘flesh out’ in my mind’s eye, and the blank canvas will begin to ‘call me’

The canvas will call me until I have no choice but to paint the image that I have in my mind.”

“However, if you come to me with your commission, I will talk to you, listen to you, look at your photographs, and then mull the whole thing over, until I have the ‘story’.

Once I have the ‘story’ then I turn your image into one of my paintings - a painting in oil for you to enjoy for the rest of your life and for your Grand children to fight over!”

The future – what are Mark Hicken's goals and aspirations?

“Of course, to continue to paint!

However, Sensual 65 was founded on collaborations and large scale global projects.

The studio will continue to be involved in lots of other projects, the largest to date and most exciting of which is just coming to life now.

Karen and I are working hard on a brand new way to introduce school children to art, and in particular to painting. As this project grows, we’ll be adding more and more content to our website, so that everyone can get involved.”

“Not only that, currently, I am working on a couple of commissions, as well as my next sensual painting.”

“The future is exciting, full of challenges. Large, small, creative, all growing and developing – I can’t wait!”