Essex County Standard,

December 8, 2000

Artwork records top sellers by ROBERT MEAD

More than ten years is a long time to wait for a book of your most famous work, but it has taken that long for one illustrator¹s dream to come true. Mark Wilkinson, of Fen Street, Nayland made his name as an artist designing and illustrating the record sleeves for the rock band Marillion during the 1980's. They were among the most recognisable in the world and the cover for the number one selling album, Misplaced Childhood, was recently voted the third best by Classic Rock magazine. Mark has had numerous other work published including record sleeves for Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Hawkwind as well as covers for the remastered Red Dwarf videos. BAND Back in the late 1980's the idea was hatched to publish a book 'Masque' about the Marillion sleeves but the project faltered when the singer and lyricist Fish left the band and two interested publishers pulled out. In the years since fans of both Marillion and Fish, who Mr Wilkinson continued to work with, repeatedly asked when and if the book would be resurrected, so this year Fish finally decided to finance the book himself. Lavishly illustrated the book features full colour artwork of an the Marillion and Fish album sleeves designed by Mr Wilkinson with a running conversation between him and Fish telling how the ideas were dreamt up. And it includes the story of how County Standard reporter Robert Mead found himself on the cover of Misplaced Childhood. Mr Wilkinson said: "It is a dream come true to have a book of your work published. It has never happened to me before." The book went on sale last week but is currently only available by mail order, however, a copy is in Colchester Library's arts section. Mr Wilkinson hopes to follow up the book's release with an exhibition of his work at the library next year. For more information write to FISH Information Service Haddington, PO Box 3, Haddington, EH41 3TA or look up the website www.the-masque.com.