Mark Lander was born in Napier 1955.

Mark studied at Upper Hutt College and Canterbury School of Fine Arts graduating in 1977 with a Diploma in Fine Art (Painting). He now has a full-time career in painting, papermaking and ceramics. Mark has exhibited and tutored in New Zealand and abroad as a painter and papermaker, and is in demand as a papermaker tutor .

Lander is a complete craftsman and artist: he manufactures the paper he paints on to, makes his own paints, and hand carves the frames of the large mixed media works he creates.