Mark Cass is the founder of Cass Art, the UK’s leading art supplies retailer. Cass Art is committed to encouraging everyone to realise their creative talents by providing the world’s top quality art materials at guaranteed lowest prices. The company aims to encourage as many people as possible to create art believing that art is a fundamental human need, with an emphasis on nurturing talent, expression and art as a freedom.


Cass Art’s store portfolio includes five stores at the heart of London’s most creative hotspots. The flagship store is three-storeys of artistic inspiration in Islington, while the Charing Cross Road branch is near the National Portrait Gallery and has been an art shop for over 115 years. Branches in Hampstead, Soho and Kensington, which will soon have the Design Museum as its neighbour, opening up a whole new opportunity for bringing the arts to the community. In December 2012 a new store concept was launched in Kingston-Upon-Thames, the first store outside of London.

Cass Art’s mission is now ‘Let’s fill this Nation with Artists’. Breaking out of the capital is the new online shop which launched this September - full of ideas, enthusiasm and inspiration. CassArt.co.uk, now allows artists and creatives from all over the UK have creative materials delivered directly to their door.

Proud supporters of the artistic community, Cass Art has formed many collaborative relationships over the years including partnerships with Sky Arts, the V&A, National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Academy of Arts , Design Museum and University of the Arts London.

Mark Cass has been an avid art promoter throughout his business career. In 1979 he started the UK franchise of the IMAGE BANK, the world’s largest film and stock photography library which was sold to Getty Images in 2000. He is also Deputy Chairman and Trustee of the Cass Sculpture Foundation, a charity that promotes international sculpture through a unique commissioning model. Mark’s family has been involved in art over many generations – his great uncle, Paul Cassirer, was the most important dealer for impressionists in Europe in the 1920s.

MARK'S FAVOURITE SITES

The Sorrell Foundation - Set up in 1999 with the aim of inspiring creativity in young people and improving the quality of life through good design. The Foundation creates and prototypes new ideas and develops models that can be widely used, such as the National Art and Design Saturday Club which gives young people aged 14-16 the unique opportunity to study art and design each Saturday morning at their local art and design college or university for free. We support their mission to ensure we can help nuture young people's talent, build confidence and their self esteem.

Cass Sculpture Foundation - My father, Wilfred Cass, established the Cass Sculpture Foundation in the 26-acre Goodwood Estate in West Sussex. The grounds have hosted over 400 sculptures since its set in 1992. The Foundation independently commissions works which are displayed on the estate, with each work given a respectable quarter of an acre to breathe in. The works are then available for sale through the foundation with profits spilt between the artist and next commission. I'm Chairman of the Foundation and I continue collaborations with art institutions such as the V&A, Creative India Foundation in Hyderbad and the Yellow River Arts Centre in China.

Paul Smith - I love getting up in the morning early and putting on a colourful classic stripy shirt but with a twist, Paul has helped me with this. I could spend a fortune if I was left alone with this site, which has been very well designed! Paul has got a good sense of humour with his tailoring, and obviously I like to wear a piece of art on my back.

Laurence King - The leading publisher of books in the creative arts. Laurence and I both have offices in Islington and have collaborated on a number of game changing books such as Marion Dechars' drawing series which came out of an idea for launching our kids' range for our new store in Hampstead. We sell our favourites on our site too!

Elephant Magazine - Featuring the most contemporary visual material for new trends and talent in contemporary visual culture, this is a fabulous magazine which I enjoy reading. It speaks honestly and openly from a political standpoint between visual and commercial art. I appreciate Marc Vallis' tone and aesthetic and he has fun bookshops too at Magma.

Curzon - I try to catch up on the latest movies each week and love the glamour and big screen of Curzon Mayfair, quite frankly I could be happy in any of their screens across London. My favourite movie this year was La Grande Bellezaa filmed by Luca Bigazzi. Beautifully shot, visually powerful, easy to relate to and very funny.

13 November 2013