Self-taught Axminster artist Mark Huntley has been nominated for the 2023 Art Unlimited International Open Art competition.

Mark was a finalist in the same competition last year,  and is an up-and-coming pastel artist. His work is being shown at the Bridport Arts Centre for the next few weeks. People can go and see and vote for their favorite artist in the people's choice category.

He has lived in Axminster his whole life and worked at Axminster Carpets from leaving school to then leaving to move on to pest control. Five years ago, he left his job to follow his dream to become a professional artist. He is self-taught and 

Axminster being so close to the coast and the border to Somerset, has given him countless opportunities and inspiration for Mark's detailed pastel landscapes Inspired by the coastline and picturesque areas on his doorstep. Mark honed his skills carrying out commission work as a pet portrait and landscape artist to get that like photography look using pastels and pastel pencils.

Since 2020 when Mark started to take his passion and Hobby to the next level to become a professional artist he won Gold at the UK Artists November Award 2021 and more recently reached the finals of Art Unlimited UK Artist Competition 2022.

The Art Unlimited Open Art Competition takes place at the Bridport Arts Centre from September 16 to 27 and will feature the artwork of all the finalists.  

Howard and the Art Unlimited Team said: "Congratulations to all our finalists and commiserations to those that did not make it through to the final. We had more than twice the number of entrants this year than last and the standard was so incredibly high the task of sifting them down to the finalists was incredibly difficult and we are grateful to our judging panel for taking the time to consider each piece so carefully.

"We would have loved to be able to exhibit everyone’s work, but we would have needed an enormous venue. Next year we will be back, bigger and better again, so we hope each and every one of you will enter again, even if you didn’t make the final this year.

Thank you to everyone for entering and congratulations to our finalists and we really look forward to seeing your work."