We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Bettis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi mark, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After working for a large corporation for many years and having grown up in a family business, I knew I wanted to have my own business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been in the arts for most of my life, starting with music. My family owned a music store so I grew up in a atmosphere of creativity. My Mother always wanted me to pursue what made me happy. As an Artist herself she let us experience whatever we thought we wanted, from music to painting.
I started sketching when I was very young and when I won an award for a contest to design the town flag I knew this is what I wanted to do.
Because I came from a family business I knew just being creative wasn’t going to get me far. So I took business courses, went into Real Estate (my second love) and from there went into marketing.
I believe doing this and understanding business has helped me greatly in being a successful artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First I would take them on my favorite hikes around our beautiful city.
Dinner at some of my favorite restaurants and then spend a day showing them our art galleries and the amazing River Arts District.
If they were beer drinkers, we would hang out at the WEDGE Brewery which is located below my gallery in the River Arts District.
Since Asheville is also a music influenced city we would probably go to a concert at Grey Eagler or Orange Peel

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A shoutout to my Mother… she was the most creative person I have ever known.

Website: https://www.markbettisgallery.com/

Instagram: @mbettisgallery

Facebook: facebook/markbettisart

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutNorthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.