Mark Bletcher is a versatile arts professional and practising artist with a portfolio career across varied organisations, including commercial galleries, charities and education/academia. He is the director of two organisations and has been a freelancer/consultant since 2022. He has multiple successful projects and a strong network in the Northeast, including organisations in the arts and charities sectors. He is also an award-winning artist; more information about his art practice and portfolio can be found at www.markbletcher.com
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Education & Training
· MA Fine Art – Newcastle University, 2025–2027
· BA Fine Art – Newcastle University (First Class Honours), 2019
· Safeguarding Level 3 for Leads/Managers
· Enhanced DBS check
· Dementia Awareness Training
Employment
Tutor – Freelance | Sep 2024 – present
Main Responsibilities: I’ve designed and implemented multiple workshops across a wide range of applications and industries to achieve various outcomes. I specialise in practice-based art workshops with both skills and wellbeing outcomes. This can mean, for example, designing a group workshop over 6 weeks for older participants who may have dementia to respond to an artwork in a gallery's collection; or working with a group of LGBTQIA+ teenagers to develop a clothing brand as part of a funded project; or developing an intensive two-day oil painting course for a commercial audience. My work is very varied and is always approached professionally, with thought and care. This includes producing written course materials, plans, and risk assessments. I always work with accessibility and inclusion in mind.
Achievements: I have extensive positive feedback from clients, both organisations and individuals. I work with an extensive list of clients, including Equal Arts, The Newbridge Project, Cobalt Studios, The Farrel Centre, Newcastle University, Helix Arts, NHSN, Newcastle Arts Centre, Gateshead Council, The Biscuit Factory, etc.
Director - Creative Workshops NE CIC | Sep 2024 – present
Main Responsibilities: I lead organisational development, planning, and compliance, and help develop projects. I manage the day-to-day running and bookkeeping of the business. I am the safeguarding lead and the primary liaison of the business with artists and consultants. I work with two other directors to guide the organisation's values and direction.
Achievements: I have developed two core projects: Inclusive Life Drawing in Sunderland, which has created a community within the partner venue, and a Fall 2025 Programme in Newcastle, which provided Creative Workshops NE CIC with comprehensive feedback and evaluation and led to impressive wellbeing outcomes for participants, with 97.2% agreeing or strongly agreeing that the sessions improved their mood and wellbeing from 80 responses.
Director – Foolish Magpie LTD | Sep 2024 – present
Main Responsibilities: I co-founded Foolish Magpie LTD with my partner as a creative company that designs original home and stationery products. I lead the company's management, including finance, production, and relationships with clients, retailers, and suppliers. I lead marketing and produce social content for the business, and manage platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Etsy, Email Marketing, and Wholesalers accounts.
Achievements: We have successfully built a business with a strong brand presence and released over 15 product lines on various platforms.
Community Evaluator– Dwellbeing | Sep 2024 – present
Main Responsibilities: I helped develop community-led evaluation methods with a group of community evaluators working in a flat, non-hierarchical structure.
Tutor – WorldStrides | Oxtrad Programme, Pembroke College | Jul 2025
Main Responsibilities: I wrote and delivered the Studio Art module for a diverse group of international students aged 16-18. This included theory, practical workshops and group visits.
Gallery Assistant – Workplace Foundation | Mar 2022 – May 2025
Main Responsibilities: Provided administrative and communications support for a National Lottery Portfolio Organisation. I assisted with marking, research and content development, and the day-to-day running of the gallery.
Editor – Minutes On | Jan 2020 – April 2024
Main Responsibilities: I was the co-founder and editor of Minutes On, a blog that published artist interviews and raised money for charitable causes through online auctions. I developed the website and brand, organised the features and published the interviews.
Achievements: We worked with over 60 artists, many of whom have gone on to maintain successful careers; we published 8 full-length interviews with contemporary artists and hosted 9 group auctions for charity.
What can I do for you?
· I can develop, deliver and evaluate art programmes for a wide range of clients and needs.
· I can provide talks, seminars, and group workshops for various organisations.
· I can provide training, teaching and mentorship to clients, staff or freelancers.
· I can work to commission, or within a project with partners.
· I can assist with day-to-day duties, including communications, administrative work, etc.
· I can provide art industry experience, including planning, funding, installation, curation, relationship management, marketing, accessibility and inclusion, writing, evaluation, and safeguarding, documentation, ect.
If you are unsure of how we can work together, fill out the form below to arrange a 30-minute video call.
Recent Projects
Recent Projects
Commission: The Newbridge Project, Collective Studio Breif
Commission: The Newbridge Project, Collective Studio Breif
I was commissioned to make 10 prints to illustrate The Newbridge Project's Collective Studio Activity over the course of a year.
Workshop: Helix Arts, Constructed Paintings and Victor Passmore
Workshop: Helix Arts, Constructed Paintings and Victor Passmore
I developed a dementia friendly workshop series in collaboration with Equal Arts and the Hatton Gallery to respond to the work of Victor Passmore
Workshop: The Arts Centre, Self-Portrait Painting In Oil
Workshop: The Arts Centre, Self-Portrait Painting In Oil
I ran a popular oil painting course for people of all experiences to learn how to oil paint over two days.
Workshop: Cobolt Studios, The Queer Life Drawing Experience
Workshop: Cobolt Studios, The Queer Life Drawing Experience
I built a community life drawing session for queer / LGBTQIA+ folk to engage in artistic activities for wellebing outcomes.
Questions?
Questions?
Contact markbletcherart@gmail.com to get more information
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