Jamaica, the island jewel rich in music, intriguing culture, and lush color offers artist Mark Hunt a wonderful means of inspiration.

Hunt, a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art, a successful commercial fine artist and long time resident of Boston, Massachusetts offers unique insight into Jamaica and its people - not simply as a casual observer but as an active participant in a tight-knit community located in a Kingston ghetto.

In 1993 Mark Hunt headed for Jamaica on vacation intending to capture portraits of the local people and perhaps a glimpse into their strong heritage. With his likeness to the American movie celebrity Chuck Norris, Hunt won instant acceptance by the locals allowing him the unique opportunity to discover that within the walls of their make-shift shanties lies a society rich in music, religion, love, and family.

As Hunt immersed himself deeper within this energetic and exciting culture, its players became more defined and provided not only the subject matter for many paintings but also the beginnings of lasting and meaningful relationships.

Hunt's paintings, like the land of Jamaica and its people are rich in texture, offering warm inviting hues and an undeniable attraction that touches your soul. Whether it's a small Jamaican school girl enjoying a walk home through a green field of swaying grass, two local boys - innocent faces filled with warmth and inner light, or perhaps a dark shanty with small faces of its inhabitants peering out into the warm sun - Hunt's work portrays with every brush stroke, the magic and love present in this community.

Mark Hunt has had numerous exhibits in Jamaica and in the United States. Several of his paintings are on permanent display in the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica.

Currently, Hunt is actively involved with his commercial fine art business of 15 years - creating scenic and textured backdrops for prestigious clients including the Boston Celtics, MTV, Janet Jackson, and commercial photographers such as William Wegman and Walter Looss.