Dear all,

My name is Martin and I am your Greater London region co ordinator and what an exciting challenge we have ahead. I met Mark back in 2005 when he helped us open an Art Studio we designed for children in West London. Mark was marvelous and I experienced at first hand his ability to communicate with children without reserve and they responded in a manner that only true understanding and friendship brings.

I was born in the town of Hawick, Roxburghshire in 1954. Hawick is a small town in the Borders – a very picturesque area of Scotland.

I trained as a Primary School Teacher at Callendar Park College of Education, Falkirk, Stirlingshire.

My teaching career has spanned over 32 years. I have taught from Nursery through to the final stages of Primary School.

I am married to Geoff Baxter. He works from home and runs his own Video Production Company – filming and editing any aspect required.

Hi, I am Colin

Having sacrificed art as a subject I loved at school for a ‘real’ job I roamed the world as an industrial gypsy. I contributed to many engineering and fabrication projects on my travels but the thought of what I really loved to do still echoed in my mind. I began experimenting in the media I was working with at the time creating design objects in cold steel and using other fabrication techniques.

When I was at school I was put into a special needs group for one of my weak subjects (maths) and one of my strong subjects (chemistry) I never understood why this was, especially as the head of science told me that she thought science was a strength of mine and I should have been moved up a group!

Hello everyone! I'm an International Child and Educational Psychologist working in private practice in the Lincolnshire Wolds in England. I specialise in working with the parents of children and youngsters with a variety of special educational needs to make sure that the provision is appropriate for the child. My website at www.drhilarydyer.co.uk gives more information about this part of my work.

Hi, I’m Hannah, a 35 year old, married to Graham, mother of two young boys and we all take care of a large slobbery Newfoundland dog called Olive.

I’m in my second year of a psychology degree but also hold qualifications in art and horticulture.

I’m extremely excited and proud to be a part of the SP8 Of The Art Foundation because I want to help young people uncover their potential to be creative, have fun and get messy. But above all I want to help nurture and encourage the enthusiasm and contagious creativity that Mark gave to young people everywhere.

Thank you to all those of you who have written to the Foundation, especially to those who have applied for Regional Coordinator positions or want to help out in some way. We have now been through all the emails from May onwards and have either responded from HQ or have passed your email onto the relevant Regional Coordinator - who should have been in touch with you. I am conscious that with the incredible response we have had since 12 November that there may be a few emails that have 'slipped through the net' and not received a response.

Unfortunately due to family commitments I was unable to be at the official launch of the foundation in London. This did not of course deter myself or any of my group getting ideas together for our mini inaugural meeting in Oliver's office this morning. Oliver and Alison were great sounding boards for our visions and I hope that with their support the North West will be adding news soon of our upcoming events. Thank you for your e-mails from interested parties in the area. All your support will be greatfully received and I will be getting around to meeting you as soon as I can.

LAUNCH DAY – 12TH NOVEMBER 2008

Wednesday the 12th November started early – 6 am to be precise. Early enough to question one’s own sanity in wishing to air the streets whilst more sensible mortals are still tucked under their duvets!

I met Mark in 1990 when we both attended the American College in London where we both studied Commercial Art. Mark’s enthusiasm for the creative arts was so evident back then. Many an evening we spent creating the most bizarre pieces of artwork however the funniest artwork was always his cartoons. A disagreement would always be resolved with one of his great sketches!

Oliver’s Blog – 20.10.08

It’s now time for me to come out of the woodwork to express my appreciation of the overwhelming support, affection and encouragement which my family and I have received since I announced the inception of the Foundation at Mark’s funeral in April.

Being able to inspire a whole generation of kids to want to do more than they thought were able. To show kids that things they thought were dull and boring can actually be great fun. coffee pot

That was Marks talent, through his zaniness, his energy and his artistic ability he'd get kids watching his show, and make it memorable.

I can't believe that a show I watched as a teenager, would still be going when I had children and was able to sit down and enjoy all oer again, but this time from the point of view of my little ones getting involved.

I didn't know Mark personally but my ever lasting memory is the energy he had when doing The Big Picture. I'm 36 years old but I still watched it - he was just so watchable.

My kids and I would sit riveted to the TV whilst this ball of energy bounced around the screen creating amazing images.

That energy and creative drive rubbed off so we'd all run off to create something - obviously it was never anything like as cool as Mark did but that's not the point. We did something and that was surely the aim of his work.