Welcome to Peace by Numbers
Welcome to Peace by Numbers
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Welcome to Peace by Numbers, a little corner of the world where painting brings peace, purpose and a splash of colour.
I'm Gareth, although every painting I create is signed Spark, a nickname given to me by my mum.
As a military veteran living with PTSD, I discovered painting by numbers as a way to quiet my mind and find a little calm in everyday life.
What began as a form of therapy has grown into a collection of nearly 300 paintings. Once completed, many are framed and donated to local charities to help raise funds for good causes.
Here, I'd love to share my paintings, my journey and the story behind the name Spark.
Sometimes you have to take a step back to see the whole picture.
Where It All Began — The First Spark
Where It All Began — The First Spark
My very first painting by numbers was a family of tigers. Before I'd even finished it, my mum asked if she could have it.
My name is Gareth Mark, but when I started school, Mum decided I should be known as Mark because she didn't want people shortening Gareth to Gary or Gaz.
The funny thing is, she never called me Mark herself. To her, I was always Spark.
So when I completed that first painting, I signed it simply Spark.
Mum kept the painting, and it eventually hung in her room at the care home. Sadly, she passed away in 2025, aged 86.
Nearly 300 paintings later, every single one still carries that same signature.
Spark isn't just my signature. It's a little piece of Mum that lives on in every painting I finish.
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