Mark Hill

Mark Hill
Also known as	Artful
Origin	Cwmbran, Wales
Genres	UK garage R&B House Music 2-step garage
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Workhouse Records
Associated acts	Artful Craig David Artful Dodger The stiX
Website	http://www.artful.dj
Notable instruments
Guitar, Keyboards, Drums

Mark Hill (born Mark Leslie Hill, 22 December 1972, Cwmbran, Wales) is a British recording artist, songwriter and record producer. He rose to fame as one half of the Artful Dodger and co-writer/producer of Craig David's multi platinum album, Born To Do It. Since he began releasing music in 1997, Mark has achieved four Ivor Novello awards, a number one album, two number one singles and over 10 million records sales worldwide.

Early life

Mark got his first guitar at eight years old; he would play along to the radio and immerse himself in songs by artists such as Stevie Wonder and George Benson. Throughout his early years and teens Mark went on to play the drums in brass bands, rock bands and orchestras, but the plan was to study to become an architect. After persuasion from his music teacher and uncle to also study music (and with the prospect of a 7 year degree becoming less appealing) Mark moved to Southampton to study Music at university. After joining a band as a percussionist, he and the bass player from the band decided to go into business together by setting up a studio. It was through the brief trading period of the studio that Mark met future half of Artful Dodger, Pete Devereux. They produced several Speed Garage bootlegs, generating a huge buzz in local circles and Djing out regularly which is how they met Craig David.

Career

Artful Dodger recorded a song with Craig on vocals which was picked up by fellow Garage pioneers Dreem Team who championed it, getting a great reaction from underground audiences and Public Demand, who signed it up straight away. Relentless Records picked up on the buzz and put their weight behind Re-Rewind, signing the track from Public Demand and marketing the record. It was a big moment for both the label, Craig and the Artful Dodger when the track peaked at number two in the UK charts in 1999. The single sold extremely well and is considered by many to signify the cross over of Garage from the underground to the mainstream, still being played across TV, Radio and in clubs worldwide to this day.

Artful Dodger went from strength to strength after the success of Re-Rewind, with Movin' Too Fast (featuring Romina Johnson) being picked up by Locked On and Pete Tong's label FFRR snapping up "Woman Trouble" (featuring Craig David and Robbie Craig,) and also the now classic album, It's All About the Stragglers.

2001 was a big year for Mark; now an award winning, chart topping producer and songwriter, he parted ways with Pete Devereux whilst promoting It's All About The Stragglers and turned his hand to a new project, a short-lived publishing company which sadly suffered due to the sharp rise of illegal downloading at that time. Undeterred, Mark continued to work on his own music whilst seeking out new talent and after a brief time starting a label under Universal Records he bought a house in Ibiza and set up his studio there. Mark fell in love with Ibiza and started working with Craig David on his second album, whilst enjoying the Balearic lifestyle and Djing on the island. With a keen ear still on the emerging talent of the UK, Mark decided to put his skills to use by forming The stiX, a live band featuring Michelle Escoffery, Lifford and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Mark took a break from music and enjoyed his personal life, getting married and having two children which is his proudest achievement to date. Focussing on other business ventures, Mark had almost resigned music to merely a hobby until he fell in love with being in the studio again.

Fast forward to 2011 and Mark is back as Artful, releasing new music on his own label Workhouse Records

Discography

Albums

• Rewind (March 2000) Mix CD
• It's All About the Stragglers (November 2001) #18 UK

Singles

All of their subsequent hit singles have also been collaborations:

Year	Title	Chart positions	Album
		UK Singles Chart
1997	"The Revenge of Popeye"	-	non-album single
	"Something" (featuring Craig David)	-
1998	"If You Love Me" - By Mark Hill	-
	"The Messenger"	-
	"What You Gonna Do" (featuring Craig David)	2	It's All About the Stragglers
1999	"Movin' Too Fast" (featuring Romina Johnson)	2
	"Re-Rewind" (featuring Craig David)	2
2000	"Woman Trouble" (featuring Craig David)	6
	"Movin' Too Fast (Remix)" (featuring Romina Johnson)	2
	"Woman Trouble" (featuring Robbie Craig and Craig David)	6
	"Please Don't Turn Me On" (featuring Lifford)	4
2001	"Think About Me" (featuring Michelle Escoffery)	11
	"TwentyFourSeven" (featuring Melanie Blatt)	6
	"It Ain't Enough" (Dreem Teem Coco Star vs Artful Dodger)	20
2002	"Ladies" (featuring General Levy and Roachie)	-	non-album single
2003	"Ruff Neck Sound" (featuring Richie Dan and Sevi G)	-
2006	"Flex" (featuring Vula)	-

References

Persondata
Name	Hill, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	22 December 1972
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death