Mark grew up in the northwest of England. His heroes were Nelson, Achilles, and Roger Hunt the footballer.He went to art college in Liverpool and Norwich, where he graduated in graphic-design. When he decided he'd like to illustrate children's books he went to writing-classes at Kensington & Chelsea College, hoping to find somebody there who could write stories for him to illustrate. Instead he found that he liked writing too. When he realized that he didn't know how to do the pictures he went to Chelsea College of Art to study illustration. He occasionally teaches there now.Mark lives in London.

He doesn't have any pets but some of his best friends have been cats and dogs.