About the Artist
Mark Thompson is a Canadian artist based along the Salmon River in rural Ontario. His work combines recognizable subjects with bold colour and texture in a developing style he calls Expressive Abstract Realism.
Mark came to painting after years of working in high-stress environments, including a career in corrections and law enforcement. Art became a way to slow things down, work through experiences that were difficult to put into words, and reconnect with the quieter parts of life outside of work.
Living in rural Ontario has had a strong influence on what he paints. Landscapes, changing seasons, water, wildlife and the personalities of the animals around his property regularly find their way onto the canvas. His work ranges from heavily textured landscapes and seascapes to abstract and symbolic pieces, along with the occasional painting that doesn't take itself quite so seriously.
Mark works in oil, acrylic, and watercolour, often using palette knives and heavy texture to give his paintings a physical presence. Some works also incorporate materials such as genuine 24K gold leaf, wood bits of nature from the surrounding landscape.
While many paintings begin with a place, memory or idea, Mark doesn't want to tell the viewer exactly what they should see or feel. Part of the experience is allowing people to bring something of themselves to his work.
In 2026, three of Mark's paintings, City of Ice and Snow, City of Ash and Light and Homebound, were selected for Station Gallery's RESILIENCE: The Art of Service, Strength, and Renewal exhibition in Whitby, Ontario. As his following has been growing, his work and story have received media coverage throughout Canada and as far as Sweeden.
Through Wild Expressions Studio, Mark creates original paintings, fine art prints and ongoing collections that range from serious and reflective to distinctly fun. Whatever the subject, the goal remains the same: to make work that feels genuine, tells a story and gives people a reason to stop and look a little longer.
