blood, sweat and ideas since 1995
Meet the team
We are a baker's dozen…
Luke Skywalker and Wonderwoman. An ironman and a memory man. A Diet Coke addict and a football fanatic. One who keeps pigs, one who loves bees and a culture vulture. A joker and an ace painter. A fast woman and a lover of fast cars. All housed in a building once previously owned by Ronnie Barker. Between us we consume in excess of 50 cups of tea a day. Come and join us for one.
Nicola Edginton, Designer
Nic's been a mark-maker for nine years, and has been with us longer than anyone else in the team. During that time she's delighted clients with her work, filled our office with laughter and collected possibly the world's biggest collection of design books - which she fiercely guards beneath her desk. Nic goes out running every lunchtime without fail (when everyone else looks at her design books.) When she does sit down it's to watch to 'Strictly Come Dancing.' Don't tell anyone, but she's our favourite.
Stephen Turner, Founder and Creative Director
Steve's a rare breed, in 'Belbin' parlance, he is a 'Creative Monitor Evaluator' – in essence an ideas man who can keep a project on brief and on budget. Outside work, for Steve it's still about being creative; from painting the scenery for the school play to photography (he's currently addicted to Instagram http://statigr.am/swturn3r ). Steve flirts with fitness, enjoying climbing, cycling and running, but doesn't need much persuasion to chill in front of a good DVD or relax with a game of cards. But be warned, at dads' Poker club they call him 'The Assassin'.
Mike Turner, Designer
Mike's our own Mr Versatile. His skills include design, animation and copywriting. Throughout the working day Mike champions the mark-making* mantra that 'the idea is king.' And at the end of the day he champions the idea of going for a quick beer. (To make this habit more respectable we made Mike our Unofficial Social Secretary.) Mike also paints and is currently working on a Ferrari 250GT - a car Chris Evans paid £12million for. When the painting's finished Mike will be looking in the phone book under 'E'.
David Souch, Designer
David's a young designer who's already achieved fantastic success. Proud winner of two coveted D&AD Awards, he offers a rare mix of youthful enthusiasm, experience and a cool head. At work he loves to bounce around ideas. At weekends he likes to kick around a ball and can always be found racing up and down the football pitch. David believes one of his greatest assets is his eye for detail. Which makes the first record he ever bought - 'All the small things' by Blink182 - rather prophetic.
Lisa Davies, Production Manager
Lisa came to mark-making* five years ago on a four week contract. We've never let her leave. OK, so we let her out evenings and weekends, but her knowledge of all things production and effortless ability to multi-task make her one of our greatest assets. Little fazes Lisa, something she attributes to her previous experience in London agencies. We put it down to growing up with three brothers. In her spare time Lisa admits to enjoying a certain BBC soap opera and raising pigs. Lisa can also make sausages. Don't tell the pigs.
Russ Henderson, Art Director
For many years Russ worked in agencies and publishing houses all over the world creating award-winning work. Convincing us that he wasn't on the run but satisfying his 'creative curiosity', we immediately confiscated his passport. Now one of the longest serving members of the mark-making* team, Russ is an inspirational art director and superb problem solver who never settles for average. Outside work his passion spills over into the plight of the bee and archery. We try not to upset him.
Alastair Williams, Founder and Creative Director
Ali founded mark-marking* with Steve 16 years ago. Here his persuasive skills first emerged, convincing his mum that her physio studio would make a better agency HQ. It's a decision he could easily have come to regret over the years, with his passion for sport presenting plenty of potential for injury. Fortunately, his low centre of gravity has kept him safe. With one notable exception: as an amateur Team GB triathlete, Ali became the only competitor on record to complete an event comprising a swim, a cycle, and trip in an ambulance. Whilst his bike survived unscathed the same could not be said for his wrist. If only that too had been made of carbon.
Russ Holt, Artworker
Behind Russ's rock steady hand and calm exterior you'll find a man who enjoys a bit of action. He's an F1 nut, citing Piquet, Senna and Prost as early heroes. Which may explain how he makes the (30 mile) journey into work in the time he does. He's also a Star wars fanatic and loves nothing more than entertaining his children with his Luke Skywalker impersonation. It's true to say that the force is always with Russ. His wife’s a policewoman.
Matt Reid, Web developer
Matt's analytical, methodical and has a memory that would put an elephant to shame. (We'd love to say it's reserved exclusively for work but it's just as likely to be demonstrated via his encyclopaedic knowledge of music.) Matt's friends call him the machine, a reference to his stamina and sadly not his hot drinks making ability. Matt's another music making, mark-maker* and played in a band that did Lou Reed covers. Although his 'Perfect day' would be mountain biking followed by Raider's of the Lost Ark.
Louise Harris, Account Manager
You've heard of Superwoman and Super Nanny. Meet Super Lou - arguably the most organised person on the planet. She's fast. (Not just at work, she's won speed trials on her horse). And she's efficient. When she makes a promise, she keeps it. Tirelessly dotting Is and crossing Ts and keeping clients fully informed of a project's progress every step of the way. The only downside to her organisational skills? She's got the biggest phone bill in the agency.
Dean Price, Designer
Dean joined us from the design department of a printers where he'd made his name working on rebranding projects for several league football clubs. Now transferred to our design team, his real talent and potential is beginning to flourish. (Think Wayne Rooney's move from Everton to Manchester United.) Dean's love of design continues away from the office where he paints and also loves visiting galleries and museums. Actually, forget that Wayne Rooney comparison.
Vanessa Christie-Brown, Accounts
Vanessa spent the first 18 years of her life living in France and Belgium. Having been exposed to dangerously high levels of 'Jeux sans frontiers' she moved to London to study experimental psychology and then immunology. Only once Vanessa had finished exploring the complexities of the human mind and body was she ready to meet a more challenging task: the mark-making* accounts department. Powered by a never ending supply of Diet Coke, Vanessa can happily crunch numbers, analyse spreadsheets and run reports all day long.