Although Mark was introduced to woodturning at school, he is largely self-taught and, after leaving school, he served a traditional apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker.

His work demonstrates a deep respect for his material and an interest to explore the conceptions of space through the undulations of the wood. This is evident in his ‘Pith vessel’ work, who expose this vital part of the tree (the pith is the soft cellular material at the centre of the tree which is usually discarded). HIs Pith vessels are very machine demand as it is rare to find wood with a pith that can be successfully exploited to show the true nature of the wood.

With these skills at his disposal and a clear respect for the material, Mark has won a number of awards, including the Craftsmanship Award 2009 from The Crafts Council of Ireland.

Most of his furniture is made to commission. However, Mark supplies several craft galleries with work including boxes and turned pieces such as the Pith vessels. His work is simple, pleasing and beautifully made. It is represented in both private and public collections, including the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin and the Department of Foreign Affairs Collection, Dublin.