I don't know much of Chris Rea but what are the similarities to Mark?
first a fiesta red stratocaster from early 60s
then :
- playing with fingers (even not exactly in the same style and not always for Chris) example :rhyhtm part on Let's dance
- voice "basso profundo" as Mark called it in an itw for STP promo
- laid back style with tipycal clean strat sound example Looking for the summer
(although it's often Jerry Donahue who sounds more knopflerish than Rea himself, example : lead guitar on Windy town
or l)
- ambient sounds keyboards, example : curse of the traveler
etc...
and Chris said in an itw that DS' success helped him a lot