Mark Cockram Graduated from Guildford College in July 1992, opening his first bindery-studio a few weeks later. Balancing the next few years with work, teaching, lecturing and further time as a student at London College of Communication (then London College of Printing) and study periods in various studios around the world including Tokyo and Bruno. In 2003 Mark opened Studio 5 Book Arts, based in S W London where he continues to work and teach. 

Mark mainly works in fine contemporary bookbinding, book arts, printing and box art, exhibiting, working and teaching various aspects of bookbinding / book arts on all 5 continents, from Brisbane to Bridgetown to Tallinn. He was elected Fellow of Designer Bookbinders in 2001 and has been a regular Booker Prize Binder since then. In addition, Mark was elected Brother of the Art Workers Guild in 2008. When other commitments allow, Mark can usually be found in Studio 5 Book Arts either busy with his own work for exhibitions and experimentation or commissions. A multiple national and international award winner, his diverse work is represented in public and private collections worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/studio5bookarts

https://studio5bookbindingandarts.blogspot.com/

Describe your approach to teaching

In essence I have always enjoyed teaching and I feel honoured to have been able to share my passion and make learning a balanced and enjoyable experience. The key principles I have are to provide a professional and firm foundation in hand skills and material appreciation, technical knowledge and context in either the historical, now or future applications of working in book binding, book arts and related fields. I feel that this encourages further development and study, enabling each individual student to maximise their potential. There is so much diversity and combinations of art, craft and making when working with the kaleidoscopic nature and use of the book that I am always  finding out new things and new approaches to working with the book and students.

What inspires your own work? 

Having lived, worked and taught in many different countries with so many different cultures and approaches to what the book is or can be has certainly expanded my horizons. Everything has the potential to inspire my work. From words on a page such as for the Booker Prize bindings or commissions through to other arts and crafts practitioners, cultures, people and time. From cave paintings through to contemporary technologies, all inspire my work. I tend to blend the contemporary with the traditional to realise a book or body of work. I acknowledge that each book or project is individual and should be treated as such.