Hi, I’m Mark and this page is the best place to explore The Vibes. It’s a magical mystery tour – just click on any image…
I’m a designer of websites, magazine covers, and all things graphic. Check out my online store where you can buy my work at Mark Wallis Design or chill out to some cool grooves at my music blog High Tunes. My full portfolio is here, and all of these sites have been designed by me.
The Vibes (you’re reading it now!) is an award-winning blog which has been Freshly Pressed by WordPress and has a large global audience with hundreds of subscribers. We’ve had input from famous authors, Olympic Torch-Bearers and been featured on the front page of French online newspaper L’Express.
Occasionally I paint in oils when I can tear myself away from the computer, and you can click on the paintings above to see the finished pieces. I know. Pull up your fainting couch and ready the smelling salts, Penelope.
I mess with music – I can’t help it! You can hear my reinterpretations, edits and original tunes on The Cosmic Jukebox. Just click on the gramophone.
Before a good one pops out, I have to take a lot of photographs. Check out the best ones by clicking on the goose, or type ‘photography’ into the search bar on the left.
I’m originally from the South of England, and you can see me returning to my place of birth after 36 years in The North. Just click on the postcard. To see more of my videos visit my YouTube channel here. I’ve managed to escape from Manchester several times: follow my adventures around the world by visiting my Travel Page. That’s your ticket below…
Manchester, for those who don’t know, is in the North of England. It’s the cradle of the modern world, birthplace of the industrial revolution, computers and Vimto. Check your atlas for other less interesting Manchesters. I lived in the Northern Quarter, which is quite a busy, bohemian part of the city with lots of galleries and street art, noisy bars and independent retail. I also lived in Amsterdam for a couple of years, which was an amazing experience (I didn’t inhale.) Gardening is a hobby, if you can call six flower boxes a garden.
In no particular order, the things I would carefully place in a lifeboat, before I deliberately shipwreck myself on a desert island (click on any panel)
the vibes 
Soft focus and diffuse light really are your friends in the header bar portrait aren’t they?
Thanks Gordon, I have a template set to make my headers look vintage. You don’t need a template for that though, do you? Ha ha!
Howdy Mark –
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I’m glad you did, It looks like I’m going to enjoy yours also.
Hi, great to have a cowboy on my blog, you’re welcome!
I already commented once to you about Sparky but here I am again reading more about MJW. You are one creative dude…did you build your WP blog? It’s amazing. I found a great quote for you – I am posting it on my blog…read you again soon!
The Lioness
Thanks, Lioness! I’m using Adventure Journal as my theme, but all I did was replace the headers and background images with my own designs. I read the quote you posted for me on your blog – thanks for the kind words and the quote is exactly right!
Thank you for your visit to my blog, I just hope it wasn’t the last. 🙂
Hi HJ! I loved your ‘red tree’ picture, it’s so unusual. You have some great pictures on your blog. I’m going to explore!
I like your neon pics very much.
Bright and vivid.
Thanks Tim, and I’m loving your photographic style. Your pictures are very striking.
I’ve nominated you for the Awesome Blog Content (ABC) Award. Whether or not you choose to accept it, you deserve it. Here’s the post about it: http://sheilahurst.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/blog-awards-lovely-abc-and-hugs/
It’s my first award and I accept! Thank you so much – I don’t have an acceptance speech prepared so I’m just doing cartwheels for now. You made my day!
Hi, I’ve nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger award. Cool blog, keep up the good work. Should you choose to accept, the details are here http://brainsplats.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/yikes-blog-awards-for-me/
I’m honoured! Thanks for nominating me, what a buzz! You have a great blog http://brainsplats.wordpress.com/ and you deserve the award, and thanks for passing it on. I’ll be posting it shortly.
Spinach bagels are really the way to go, in my humble opinion. 🙂
Glad to have stumbled upon your page!
Cheers,
Mac
Nice to have you on board!
This is such a fabulous blog: eclectic, beautifully presented and just all round delightful. Thank you.
That’s such a nice thing to say, and makes it all worthwhile! I find your blogs very inspiring: it’s like having an Art Radar!
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. I know you just did an award post, so you really don’t have to do another one any time soon or ever, I just thought you truly deserved this one since your site is so versatile and fun. Here’s the post on the award: http://sheilahurst.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/blog-awards-versatile-kreativ/
Congratulations on your awards! And thank you for the Versatile Blogger, I’m blushing. Have I got the complete set? I’ll be posting soon 🙂
I think you must have the set by now – you deserve it! 🙂
We have a lot in common!
Don’t tell me you’re all bagels and iPhones too?
More than I’d like…
There must be a helpline for people like us!
Haha. If only!
Wow wow wow!! I was just browsing around to see some interesting stuff from wordpress bloggers and your’s is amazing Mark! Like everything here is awesome! 🙂
PS: First thing I’m gonna do is look up “adventure journal” and see how much fine tuning I can do on it 😀
Well, I don’t want to give away my secrets, but all I did was replace the background image and extend the theme in the header images. I’m really glad you like my design 😀
Wow!!! This is the most visually stunning blogsite I’ve come across yet!.. I’m so envious of your artistic skills! 🙂
Thanks, your comment makes me very happy! Stunning is a word I like!
Great blog, eye catching, attractive, interesting as well as well design. Your blog gives me ideas on how to dressing up my blog better.
Keep on posting….
It’s great to think I might be inspiring people! Thanks for your comments 😀
Greetings from a less interesting Manchester in the northern USA. Just saw your Moroccan bazaar blog post, and decided to take a deeper look. Like what I see!
Ha! Did I write that? Hello to you in Manchester USA and thanks for dropping by. I’m glad you like the blog 😀
Now THIS is a great blog – really like your work, images, vivid descriptions and details. Thank you for your work, sharing and providing inspiration!
Thanks Kat, loving your blog too. We seem to have a lot in common!
Your Bps Stortford odyssey is fascinating
Are there still Mohicans, or are you the last..?
Phili Stein? Mmh. Why does that name ring a bell? I wonder…mind if I call you Philis for short?
I chopped off my mohican on my 21st birthday and my partner at the time pressed the plume like an exotic bright red flower. Glad you liked the Bishop’s Stortford video, it was a labour of love.
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I found you via Frivolous Monsters and after all the bru-ha-ha of being Freshly Pressed. So I’m late to the party. Your blog is a feast for the eyes and leaves me with a smile on my face. (Not surprisingly I was drawn to the image of the VDub in your header).
Hi Ziggy, thanks! Everyone loves a VW, and I understand you own one called Sunny and it’s yellow? Fantastic! Personally I want the VW from the cover of Air’s Moon Safari, then I can go into space.
Well,there is an illusion to having taken light years to reach a destination when travelling in a campervan. But I like the idea of a Rocket Van.
Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award 😀 The way it works goes something like this: create a post and in that post mention the person who nominated you, then mention 7 interesting things about yourself, and then nominate some other blogs that you find interesting! I posted the nominations today so if you want to check it out visit lexiejrunge.com. Congrats!
That’s very kind of you, Lexie! I’ve got a post in the pipeline for the Sunshine Award, so I’ll include this one. Congratulations on winning!
“I have began to practice a life that I always talked, but rarely walked.” That’s one hell of a quote, and I’m glad I found your blog 😀
Hey Mark, thanks for deciding to follow my blog, but first of all, I probably need to give share a few suggestions with you that will definitely enhance your reading pleasure;
1) Prepare a tall ice-cold tumbler of your favorite beverage.
2) Find a supremely comfy place to recline.
3) Put your feet up (helps to keep blood flowing to your brain)
4) Put on your thinking cap (this suggestion came from my six year old Grandson)
5) Read.
6) Scratch the occasional itch (this one was suggested by Jake the Wonder Dog, our Jack Russell Terrier)
7) Always keep a sense of humor (suggested by my wife as she looked over my shoulder and saw what I was writing)
Be encouraged!
Sounds like a plan! I can see there is a lot of great stuff on your blog, so I’m going to sit down and have a good read – thanks for dropping by.
I love your blog.Would you be able to make me a notebook background?
Hi Christian, glad you liked my blog! I’d love to do you a background -use the email button at the top of the right hand column and let’s talk.
While I am know I’m not the first (and certainly not the last), I wanted to let you know that I recognized your blog in the “Reader Appreciation Awards”. I’ve really enjoyed your writing, pictures and perspective. Thank you!
http://guypenn.com/2012/06/13/reader-appreciation-awards/
Thanks, Guy and congratulations on winning the award! It’s always good to be appreciated, and you made me very happy!
Thanks for the like on Bravery…have a great week.
Be encouraged!
I think this is the most beautiful blog I’ve seen yet, so well put together…I am a very unflattering shade of green just now, and wishing mine looked even a fraction as eclectic and original as yours. Well done!!!
Thanks, Koco! Your blog looks fine to me, but if you want to make changes I provide quick affordable design solutions. so let me know 😀
I do want to make changes, I have no idea how to do it myself, but I know I’m never happy with fine…I want something that reflects more of what the blog is about, and what I’m about. So yes, please…help!!
AMAZING! I love it 🙂
Thanks Tamzin, nice to meet you!
Your new about page is a work of art and an adventure to scroll around. I love it
Thanks for dropping by,and I hope you found something of interest hidden behind all those images!
I enjoyed visiting your blog and I am excited to read and learn more. Your blog is really beautiful. I can’t quite get there with mine yet. As we all are, it’s a work in progress.
Hi if you need any help I do a basic budget design package to get you going. Email me via my contact page or use the button top right.
LOVE the design of your blog!!
Thanks, QLP! Glad you like it. I’m developing a new series of blog designs like this one for the budget-conscious… here’s the latest http://hightoons.wordpress.com
Hi I loved the San Francisco post so much that I would like to nominate you for a wonderful team member award. Here are the details. http://nanacathydotcom.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/award-wonderful-team-member-readership-award/
Thanks, Nanacathy. I’m honoured! Im glad you’re a fellow SF fan, and I’ll post my acceptance soon 😀
Hi Mark,
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (again): http://ninstravelog.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/versatile-blogger-award/ and I think you know why. Enjoy!
Nin.
Thanks for the award and congratulations! You deserve it 😀
Loving your blog!!…and the look of it ❤
Hello Ayesha! Thanks for dropping by, I’m going to be trying one of your recipes…