A two-person exhibition with Mark Melvin & ATM
A classic juxtaposition of two artists hailing from different sides of London, one with a foot in the wild and the other firmly anchored in the city – both passionate in their field.
Mark Melvin is a London-based impressionist cityscape painter predominately working in acrylic on board and canvas.
He knows the South East London streets like the back of his hand. Having grown up in Deptford and Greenwich, Melvin has spent his life walking up and down the banks of the Thames and been inspired by the urban city landscape.
His lifelong interests lie in the ever-evolving architectural scenes and shapes the capita has to offer. With keen observation for documenting the not so glamorous areas now lost to gentrification. Melvin paints his own arenas with an uplifting and recognisable London Skyline.
For years, Melvin worked with only five muted colours creating a very distinctive identity and palette. In this, new exhibition, ‘Concrete Jungle’, Melvin has added some new hues to a selection of the works, elevating the graphic element with fresh vibrancy as buildings become strong blocks of colour enhancing the framing of each inner city setting.
ATM, on the other hand, paints to celebrate the beauty and mystery of the natural world. Endangered species painted on urban walls draw attention to the environmental crisis, the hope being to inspire active participation in environmental protection and restoration. Small individual changes repeated on a large scale can have dramatically positive effects. ATM’s art campaigns to help nature’s preservation and regeneration.
Reaching huge numbers of people this way gives a wonderful opportunity to reveal the unique qualities of creatures that might otherwise be unknown or neglected. This exhibition of his more intimate work on paper and canvas expresses his responses and feelings towards the natural world and its inhabitants.
Recently, ATM was commissioned to paint some of the iconic species found at RSPB sites. He featured on BBC Spring Watch, hosted by Michaela Strachan & Chris Packham.
Ben Oakley Gallery, 20 North Cross Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9EU from 25th June- 19th July. Opening Hours: Weds- Sat 10:30-6pm; Sun 10:30-4:30 pm.
Preview: Thursday 25/06/2026 7- 9:30 pm.
