By Isle of Wight Observer
Isle of Wight author and broadcaster, Mark Ovenden, has launched a new transport history book which shot straight to number one on Amazon across four categories, including Railway History, last week.
Mapping Britain’s Railways: The Design History of a Nation on Track was co-written by Mark, alongside National Rail map-maker, Andrew Smithers.
The 176-page book explores 200 years of route diagrams, passenger navigation, and cartography, featuring over 300 colourful maps with several references to the Isle of Wight and its routes. Mark, who attended Cowes High School from the age of 13, credited his early interest in mapping to his former local teachers.
“Some great art teachers at Cowes encouraged my interest in maps and design,” he said. “Since I’ve been living back on the Island since 2019, I’ve produced three books featuring cartography. I wish I could find those old geography and art teachers from Cowes High, who were so insightful in spotting a spark of interest in mapping and transport.”
After leaving the Island in 1980, Mark worked across music and broadcasting – including roles at BBC Radio Solent, PowerFM, BBC Radio 1, and MTV – before publishing his first international bestseller, Metro Maps of the World, in 2003. His books have since sold a quarter of a million copies globally.
Returning to the Island in 2019, Mark now presents a weekly transport and design show, on Vectis Radio on Fridays.
Mal Butler