Welcome to Mark Danbury's Web Portfolio. I hope you enjoy your visit to my website, which shows examples of the various kinds of work that I have produced over the last few years, from pencil illustrations and wall murals to sculptures and models. There is also a filmography in the Media/FX section which lists the work I was commisioned for for various TV shows, advertisements and films.
Hopefully you will find the website intuative to use, but if not, then simply follow the instructions below.
The Website
The layout of each page is the same. At the top you'll find the Home and Contact navigation buttons, together with the title of the current section being viewed. You can use this bar to nagivate back to the previous pages.
The bottom part of the screen contains a series of buttons which take you to the various categories of artwork. For example, if you want to view my drawings and paintings, click on the Illustration button below. This will replace the three section buttons with another set of specific buttons pertaining to the Illustration categories, including Cartoon, Landscape and Fantasy.
The middle part of the screen is where the artwork and descriptive passages are shown. For example, choosing Cartoon in the Illustration section will present you with the first picture in that category, and it's associated description, composition and dimension information. Use the left/right navigation buttons to cycle through the other artwork in the chosen category.
Use the Home button to return to this page. Use the Contact button if you are interested in employing my services for a private commission, or for creating design works for a particular project. You can also contact me if you are interested in buying any of my existing artwork, if you wish to buy a print, or if you require any more information about myself or my work.
Please note that the images used on this website are fairly low resolution to ensure that they load in a reasonable time (each images is approx 20KB). If you wish to see higher resolution examples of my work, please contact me for details.
About Me
I have always loved to draw and paint, and over the last few years developed skills in a variety of different disciplines such as sculpture, prop making and other crafts.
My employment background has been primarily working in television production, firstly with BBC Newcastle on the "Byker Grove" programme, then later as a Special Effects Technician for a Yorkshire based company called Emergency House Special Effects. Yet throughout my time creating various illusions for television, I have continued to do what I enjoy doing most, and that is to paint nature, be it wild Koala's in Australia or the neighbour's family dog.
I am currently based near Newcastle upon Tyne, but have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work all over the country, as well as the good fortune of working as a scenic artist in Brisbane, Australia.
I hope that you enjoy my website and find it informative; tell your friends and colleagues, and don't forget to bookmark this site.
My paintings are inspired from a number of different sources, be it travel, wildlife, other artists or the media around me. I am constantly developing new ideas and projects from this endless resource of creative impute.
People ask how do I go about painting for example, a clients pet? Well in an ideal world I like to try and meet the subject of my painting, get to know their character and make some quick preliminary sketches. However my trusty old camera is one of my most valued tools, and I take a whole selection of photographs, to try and create accurate reference information for my painting. This isn't always possible, for example the pet may have died, so now I have to work from old photographs supplied by the client, the more the merrier. Sometimes this can be extremely difficult depending on the quality of the photograph, is the picture grainy or out of focus? Has the animal been composed well, or is it that black lump stuck in a tree across the street? Every project is unique, with it's own set of problems, and therefore is dealt as such.
If you would like a print of an existing image from my collection, (unfortunately I can't reproduce paintings that are done as private commissions) or would like to commission me to create an original piece of art work, please see details in the Contact Me section.
My sculpture work also takes many forms using a wide range of materials for a wide range of different uses. From full-scale models to miniatures, character designs and soft props, I'm always looking forward to the next challenge. Also check out the Media FX page for more examples.
I have been heavily inspired by the Hollywood artisans of recent years whom create models of incredible precision and detail to suit a given brief. One such artist is Ron Mueck, these days a highly respected fine artist, he formerly worked for the Jim Henson's Creature Shop, before becoming a very successful model maker in his own right. I was very fortunate to win a work placement at his model shop in London when I was seventeen years old. The work and detail that Mr Mueck had created just blew me away, I couldn't believe how sculptures, models could look so real; he was a genius in every respect.
Inspired I have tried to create that same quality in my own work, learning new tricks and techniques to improve from project to project. As with my paintings I have undertaken commissioned work, but due to the materials and often time-consuming processors involved, sculptures do tend to be more expensive to create than paintings on an individual basis.
The work shown here combines a variety of very different skills but all have been produced to aid either pre-production or have been created for use in the production for both the screen and theatre.
A problem I have nearly always faced working in television and film is that there is never enough time and increasingly more often not enough budget to do something in the way you may want to do it. Time and money always tends to work against you, limiting you to a particular process, or having to sacrifice some artistic decisions due to those constraints. Then of course there are always the practicalities to consider. If it is a prop I am making such as falling rocks that need to be used to hit some one on the head. Then those rocks firstly need to be safe, they must not hurt or render an actor unconscious in their use. Secondly they need to work and look right to camera. Thirdly comes the finished detail to sell the illusion should any of those rocks be seen in detail. Often you can get away with painting crude lumps of polystyrene that may work equally as well as detailed foam or latex cast props.
Many of the examples that follow are props made with those same constraints, and thankfully to the incredible talents and experience of SFX supervisors, Camera men, Directors and Designers who help make those illusions work. It really is amazing what a dollop of paint, an elastic band and piece of string can do!
Here are some storyboard examples I did for series ten of the children's television programme "Byker Grove". As you can see the sketches were made very quickly working from a set of notes given to me by the Director.
I tend to draw several variations if I am unclear about a certain camera angle, or how an action may play out, this helps me visualize more easily what it is that the Director is after. I then make amendments, and the boxes are numbered in consecutive order. The Director may then want to place further notes onto the boards like a cartoon strip. These are usually notes for the camera department, for examples arrows to indicate a camera move or pan, notes on frame speed or lighting, etc.
Storyboards not only help the camera department visualize what maybe seen in any given scene, but also the art department, who with a greater understanding can prepare the set more exactly. This is incredibly important where stunts and special effects play a part, all departments can more easily see what is supposed to happen, and act upon the information more effectively.
| 1996 - 1998 |
TV |
| "Byker Grove" |
| BBC/Zenith North |
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| May 1998 |
TV |
| "Cater Street Hangman" |
| Ardent |
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| Special Effects Trainee |
| Rain storm and fog |
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| June 1998 |
TV |
| "Hetty Wainthrop Investigates" |
| BBC |
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| Special Effects Trainee |
| Rain |
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| July 1998 |
Film |
| "The Darkest Light" |
| Footprint Films |
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| Special Effects Trainee |
| Fire incinerator |
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| August 1998 |
TV |
| "The League of Gentlemen Series 1" |
| BBC |
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| SFX Technician |
| Rain, fire, pneumatic, animal and model making |
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| August 1998 |
Film |
| "The Match" |
| Propaganda Films |
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| September 1998 |
TV |
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| September 1998 |
TV |
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| October 1998 |
TV |
| "Touch of Frost" |
| Yorkshire |
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| FX Trainee |
| Rain and wetdown |
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| October 1998 |
TV |
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| October 1998 |
TV |
| "Queer as Folk" |
| Red Production, Granada |
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| January 1999 |
TV |
| "999 (cave sequence)" |
| BBC |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Fire and smoke |
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| February 1999 |
TV |
| "This is Personal" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| March 1999 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain, fire in grates |
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| March 1999 |
TV |
| "Secrets of the Dead: Bloodred Roses" |
| Granada Factuals |
|
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| March 1999 |
TV |
| "Welsh BAFTA Awards" |
| ITV (Cardiff) |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Stage pyro |
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| May 1999 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| June 1999 |
TV |
| "Clocking Off" |
| Red Productions/Granada for BBC |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| July 1999 |
TV |
| "Life Force" |
| Childs Play Productions |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Fire and pyro |
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| September 1999 |
Film |
| "There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble" |
| Impact Films |
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| SFX Technician |
| Prop football effect |
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| September 1999 |
TV |
| "League of Gentlemen Series 2" |
| BBC |
|
| SFX Technician |
| Rain, fire, various animals |
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| October 1999 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Snow |
|
| December 1999 |
TV |
| "Where The Heart Is" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| January 2000 |
Film |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Fire and explosions |
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| February 2000 |
TV |
| "Cutting Edge" |
| Laurel Productions for Channel 4 |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Snow |
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| March 2000 |
Advert |
| "Oasis Holidays" |
| Photography - Mike Hill for Image Zone |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Snow |
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| March 2000 |
TV |
| "Blow Ambition" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
|
| April 2000 |
TV |
| "Byker Grove" |
| Zenith North/BBC |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Fire |
|
| May 2000 |
TV |
|
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Chip shop fire, Leaking washing machine, collapsing chair |
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| May 2000 |
Advert |
| "Photo shoot" |
| Mooney Productions |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| August - October 2000 |
TV |
| "League of Gentlemen Christmas Special" |
| BBC |
|
| SFX Technician |
| Snow, fog, various models, blood |
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| September - December 2000 |
Film |
|
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| SFX Technician |
| Cow, pigs ears, face cast, storm and rain, car shoot-up with bullet hits and car explosion, fire |
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| October 2000 |
Advert |
| "Honda Joy Machine (Internet ad)" |
| |
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| SFX Technician |
| Bendy tree |
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| November 2000 |
TV |
| "Take Me" |
| Coastal Productions, Tyne Tees |
|
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| November - December 2000 |
Film |
| "Al’s Lads" |
| Assistant Technician |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Storm, fog and wetdown |
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| December 2000 |
Film |
| "Dream" |
| Cannes Film Festival |
|
| SFX Technician |
| Physical and pyro |
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| January 2001 |
Film |
|
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| February 2001 |
Product Display |
| "Rocky" |
| Butchers Dog Food |
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| SFX Technician |
| Animatronic Golden Retriever |
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| March 2001 |
Film |
| "24 hr Party People" |
| 24 hr Films |
|
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| April 2001 |
TV |
| "Prescription for Murder" |
| |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| April 2001 |
TV |
| "No title" |
| Granada Factuals |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Battle scenes, rain and smoke |
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| May 2001 |
TV |
| "Where The Heart Is" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| SFX Technician |
| Studio rain on windows |
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| June 2001 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Fire, kiln explosion |
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| June 2001 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| June 2001 |
TV |
| "Beating Jesus" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
|
| July 2001 |
Film |
|
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Snow |
|
| July 2001 |
Advert |
| "Christmas Hamper" |
| Konfli Dulibra |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Falling snow |
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| July 2001 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain and fog |
|
| July 2001 |
TV |
| "Blood Strangers" |
| Granada |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain |
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| August 2001 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Warehouse explosion and fire |
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| September 2001 |
TV |
| "Ted and Alice" |
| BBC/Granada |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain and smoke |
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| September 2001 |
TV |
| "At Home with the Braithwaites" |
| Yorkshire |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Rain, snow and ice |
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| September 2001 |
TV |
| "Countdown to Waterloo" |
| Granada/Granada Factuals |
|
| Assistant Technician |
| Smoke, battle scene, re-enactments |
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| October 2001 |
TV |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain, run-away caravan gag |
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| November 2001 |
Film |
| "Principles of Lust" |
| Blast Films |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Fire in grate, petrol pump gag, candles |
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| December 2001 |
Advert |
|
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| Assistant Technician |
| Rain, fire and smoke, riot sequence |
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| December 2001 - February 2002 |
TV |
| "Nice by Eddie" |
| LA Productions |
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| Assistant Technician |
| Firework, gas fire rig, bubble machine, collapsing ceiling |
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| February - March 2002 |
Film |
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| November 2002 - February 2003 |
Theatre |
| "Cosi" |
| Queensland Performing Arts Trust |
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| Scenic Artist |
| Scenic artwork and prop making |
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| June 2003 |
TV |
| "Last of the Summer Wine" |
| BBC |
|
| Technician |
| Prop making and scenic artwork |
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If you would like to see more samples of my work, or would like to commission me for a portrait, illustration or sculpture, then please telephone, e-mail or write; contact details are shown below.
If you would like to commission me to do a piece of work for you, the following details will be required when ordering:
- Contact details (name, address, e-mail etc.).
- Timescale. Please give as much time as possible before the work needs to be completed by. Waiting times can vary depending on work load. An approximate completion date will be given at time of ordering.
- The title, caption of the artwork.
- For paintings, should the artwork be framed or unframed?
- Please send a selection of good, clear photographs to work from. Indicate the main ones to concentrate on, and provide any notes to describe expressions, colourings, special markings etc. Highlight any changes from the originals. All photographs are returned when the work has been completed.
A deposit will be required once the work has been agreed and the outstanding balance will be required in full upon completion of the artwork. All artwork is shipped by secure, recorded delivery.
If you have a specific request, or have not seen an example of the type of commision you have in mind, please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss your exact needs. I look forward to hearing from you.
