Mark Rees is a Welsh author, journalist and art historian whose work explores the Gothic imagination, European visual culture and the folklore and ghost stories of Wales.
He is especially known for his writing and broadcasts on the uncanny, combining historical research with a love of storytelling.
His work has taken him from newspaper newsrooms and television studios to theatres, universities and cruise ships, sharing stories about everything from Victorian ghosts and Halloween traditions to Van Gogh and Gothic art.
Writing, Research & Cultural History
Mark’s work moves between art history, architecture, folklore and cultural heritage, exploring how places are shaped by their history, stories and visual culture.
His books include more than ten titles on Welsh culture, folklore and the paranormal, including the Ghosts of Wales series and Paranormal Wales.
His current PhD research explores how artists, writers and travellers viewed Wales during the nineteenth century, and why its landscapes, folklore and history became so closely associated with the Gothic imagination.
Folklore, the Gothic & Halloween
Much of Mark’s work — including his PhD research — explores the Gothic imagination, with particular attention to the visual culture of the Victorian age.
From haunted landscapes to folklore traditions and the literature of the uncanny, his writing has covered subjects ranging from Dracula to Dennis Wheatley.
He is especially in demand during the Halloween season (spooky season is busy season), for talks, media appearances and live events focused on the folklore and history of the holiday.
He is also the host and organiser of Ghosts of Wales – Live!, an annual evening of storytelling, music and spooky surprises, while Phantoms — a stage production based on his ghost stories — was premiered by Fluellen Theatre Company in 2018.
He is currently researching a major new work on the history of Halloween in Britain and Ireland (publication 2027).
Media, Broadcasting & Documentary Work
Mark is a regular contributor to radio, television and podcasts, where he discusses art history, folklore and cultural heritage.
He is also co-presenter of the documentary series Paranormal Unpacked (alongside Steve Balsamo and Ant Jones) which investigates unsolved mysteries and unusual historical cases by visiting locations, speaking with witnesses and consulting subject specialists.
The first feature-length episode, The Rhondda Street Poltergeist, reached over 100,000 views in its first month online, and can be watched here:
Talks & Lectures
Mark gives talks and lectures at festivals, museums, universities, libraries, theatres, cruise ships and cultural events across the UK and internationally.
His subjects range from European art and architecture to folklore, ghost stories and the history of Halloween.
Recent themes include Van Gogh and the Impressionists, Victorian ghost stories, and the Gothic imagination in art and literature.
Writing, Media & Earlier Career
Before becoming a full-time writer and lecturer, Mark worked in journalism for over twenty years, including as Arts Editor for a major Welsh newspaper group whose titles included Wales’s most widely read daily newspaper.
He continues to contribute features, articles and reviews to leading national publications, alongside freelance commissions for international outlets and academic titles.
Halloween, Events & Live Work
Halloween is a particularly busy time of year, with talks, broadcasts and live events exploring the darker side of history, folklore and tradition. Please get in touch to enquire about availability: