Are there any specific artists or artistic movements that have influenced your style?
Not specifically as I generally take influence and inspiration from a huge variety of things, from comic book art styles, vintage travel posters, to great car/motorsport photography and everything in between. If I was to name a single artist however it would most definitely be Tim Layzell. I’ve always loved his work and it really inspired me to start creating my own automotive illustrations.
Your work often conveys a sense of motion and energy - how do you achieve this dynamic quality in your illustrations?
A lot of the time my work starts with the movement and speed I want to portray, and everything is then built around that. Creating depth helps and knowing where to keep things simple and add detail is also important. Where possible I put a lot of time and effort into the dynamic attitude of the car too. Things like body roll, suspension movement, and wheel camber etc might seem small, but they make a huge difference in how we interpret speed and motion.
What did you enjoy most about creating the cover artwork for Porsche Post?
Well firstly just being given the opportunity to create the cover artwork for Porsche Post was amazing, a magazine cover was something I’d always wanted to do. On top of that, I really enjoyed the challenge of putting together a striking image with stationary cars. It was a nice change from my usual work, which is all about speed and action. I think having such a cool and diverse lineup of Porsches certainly helped!
What’s next for you as an artist? Are there any dream projects or collaborations you’d love to take on in the future?
Up until recently, I was working full-time in Highway Design Engineering, but I’ve now reduced my hours so I can spend one day a week focusing on M Dawson Art. What started out as just a hobby and passion project has quickly grown into a second job, thanks to the overwhelming response my art has received and the incredible people it’s put me into contact with. Looking ahead, I’ve got so many goals I’d like to achieve but ultimately, I just want to keep creating bold, action-packed artwork for enthusiasts to enjoy—and who knows, maybe even turn this into the full-time job. I genuinely enjoy everything about M Dawson Art so it in itself is my dream project.
You’ve loved cars since you were young - what’s your favourite automotive memory?
That is a really tough question as there are so many. If I had to pick one though, my favourite automotive memories would be the track days my friend Graeme and I spent in our Peugeot 306 GTI-6 track car and later our Caterham 7 Tracksport. There's really nothing quite like pushing a car on track, and the UK has so many great circuits to drive.
If you could own any Porsche - what would it be?
Another super tough question! But as huge rally fan, I think I’d have to say a Tuthill Porsche 911 SC RS (as finding an original 911 SC RS 3.0 might prove tricky!). I’d have it in white with some subtle Rothmans colours and decals as a nod to Henri Toivonen and Porsche’s great rallying history.
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Mark Dawson was born and raised on the Isle of Wight. A Highway Design Engineer by trade, he has also established himself as a respected artist, specialising in automotive art.
Creativity has been a constant throughout Mark’s life. From a young age, he showed a natural talent for drawing and painting, excelling in art at school. Though his career led him into engineering, he has continued to use his creative skills in areas such as CAD design, graphic work, and conceptual illustration.
A lifelong passion for cars, bikes and motorsport heavily influences Mark’s work. His meticulous research before creating a piece, combined with an in-depth knowledge of racing history and vehicle details, brings a wonderful level of detail to his illustrations.
You can see more of Mark’s work here:
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