Never Grow Old, Never Die

Step inside the shadows of The Lost Boys with Mark Davies

Some films stay with us long after the credits roll, and The Lost Boys is undoubtedly one of them. For some, it’s a film they’ve never quite got around to watching; for others, it’s an absolute cult classic, a movie they return to time and time again. For artist Mark Davies, it’s a film filled with unforgettable imagery, a wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack and moments that can still send a shiver down your spine.

Back in 2019, Mark created Thou Shalt Not Fall, his first artwork inspired by The Lost Boys. It has continued to prove popular with collectors, and over the years, requests for a follow-up have regularly come his way. In particular, there has been one question: when would we finally get to step inside the vampires’ lair?

Well, the wait is over!

Introducing Never Grow Old, Never Die, Mark’s latest journey into the world of The Lost Boys and a wonderful example of his more subtle, storytelling-led approach to creating art.

Mark remembers watching the film and finding certain moments genuinely frightening. The idea of being bitten and transformed into a vampire has always unsettled him, and that sense of unease has helped shape the atmosphere of this latest piece.

Interestingly, the artwork was created immediately after Mark completed Lost in Hollywood X, a piece dominated by recognisable movie characters. For his return to The Lost Boys, he wanted to take the opposite approach.

Rather than showing us everything, he wanted to leave things to our imagination.

After all, sometimes the scariest things are those we cannot see. The figures lurking in the shadows, the feeling that somebody is watching, the movement just beyond our field of vision — these are the things that can make a scene truly unsettling.

This approach is deeply rooted in Mark’s Storyteller portfolio, where the narrative unfolds through carefully placed details, visual clues and references that invite the viewer to look closer and piece together the story for themselves. It’s an approach he clearly loves, and one that gives Never Grow Old, Never Die its distinctive intensity.

Rather than spelling everything out, Mark allows the atmosphere to do the talking. And we think that makes this latest piece all the more compelling.

A beautiful deception…

When creating the scene, Mark deliberately avoided the obvious route of a cold, muted and overwhelmingly dark vampire setting. Instead, he wanted to introduce warmth, colour and a sense of deceptive comfort — a scene that draws you in, makes you feel safe and then quietly reminds you that all may not be as it seems.

The colour palette works beautifully, with vibrant flashes of green and pink cutting through the moonlit atmosphere. The fallen chandelier adds another layer of drama, while the contrast between the eerie stillness of the surroundings and the movement suggested by the flickering flames gives the whole composition a wonderfully unsettling quality.

There is something almost inviting about the scene, but look a little longer and that sense of security begins to fade. The darkness is never far away, and the feeling that something is lurking just out of sight is difficult to shake.

It is this balance between beauty and menace that makes the artwork so fascinating. Mark has created a scene that doesn't need to shout to get your attention; instead, it quietly draws you into its world and encourages you to stay a little longer.

And, of course, what would The Lost Boys be without its music?

The film's soundtrack is an essential part of its identity, packed with songs that have become inseparable from its atmosphere and enduring appeal. Mark particularly enjoyed listening to the soundtrack while creating the artwork — and it got us wondering…

Which is your favourite song from The Lost Boys?

The fun is in the details…

If you’re a fan of Mark’s work, you’ll know that discovering the hidden references is all part of the experience. With Never Grow Old, Never Die, he has deliberately chosen not to reveal every little nod to the film.

Instead, he wants you to explore the scene for yourself.

Take your time, look into the shadows and see what you can uncover. Some details may jump out immediately, while others might take a little longer to reveal themselves. And if you know the film inside out, there may be moments that bring an especially satisfying smile of recognition.

Mark hopes that he has done justice to a film that means so much to its devoted fans, capturing its intensity without losing the mystery that makes it so memorable.

One thing is certain: there is still plenty of scope to explore the world of The Lost Boys through future artworks. There are more stories to tell, more secrets to uncover and more shadows to step into.

After all, some ideas never grow old… and they certainly never die.

Never Grow Old, Never Die — a haunting return to The Lost Boys from Mark Davies, available to discover at Westover Gallery.