Painter, born in Lincoln. He took a fine art honours degree at Gloucestershire College of Art, 1979–82, gaining his master’s in painting, 1983–4. Mead then had an artist-in-schools residency, at Hartshill School, Nuneaton, 1985, followed in 1985–6 by another residency at Porthcawl School, Wales. After Greek Government Scholarships, 1986–7, Mead was artist-in-residence at The National Gallery, 1987–8, then in 1992 at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Among his many awards and prizes were an Arts Council Award, 1977, and a WAC Travel Award in 1989. His many shows included Stowells Trophy Exhibition, RA, 1982; one-man show at British School at Athens, 1986; solo show at Winchester Gallery, 1988; and the first of a series of one-mans at New Academy Gallery, 1989.