Mark Collins grew up working on his grandfather's Texas cattle ranch where all he wanted was to be a cowboy. Years later, Collins became a Texas Game Warden and was happy in this career for 31 years until retiring in 2018. After that, he and his wife moved to Hamilton, Montana, where they currently live. Thanks to his childhood of hunting and fishing, Collins taught himself to tan hides, tanning his first at the age of eight. Later on, he began to gain an interest in Native American hide techniques. After years of struggle and patience, he creates these beautiful pieces and has now been for nearly 40 years.What really sets Collins' work apart from others is its authenticity. Each piece is made in every aspect, down to the color and beading, to what the Native Americans would produce on the western plains. Mark gets his inspirations from a large variety of Plains tribes; he also names the tribe of influence for each piece. Collins obtains the majority of his materials from animals he hunts and does the whole process in the exact methods used by the tribes. Meaning his works are strong enough to be used for their intended purpose.In the summer of 2021, two television series "Yellowstone '' and "1883" discovered Collins' art here in this gallery. They purchased a multitude of his art to use in the shows for its historic authenticity and usage abilities. Aside from creating art, Mark is still very active and can be found in the backcountry most any time of year. Today, you will find Collins, hiking, camping, exploring, hunting, fishing, prospecting, on foot or horseback, simply enjoying life in Montana. You might even see him in his Cheyenne Teepee, enjoying a good fire, picking at his guitar, and singing a tune.