Volk Gallery is proud to present the work of Laura Darling. Each Volk artist is given a size limit and budget and left to their own devices. With this brief, Darling has produced a riso-printed concertina book featuring Dundee shop fronts you may recognise. Rather than an idealised middle-class nostalgia, Darling's High Street illustrates the reality of today's town centres, where grocers and florists have been replaced by charity shops and bookies. The title, a playful poke at the 'Death of the High Street' trope, offers a note of optimism, the 'life' being the characters who move through the street - people on their way to work, shoppers, children, dogs, families and friends.
Artist's Statement
I'm Laura Darling. I'm an illustrator, and I often write too. I grew up in the Scottish Borders, studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and have lived in Dundee since 2007. I work in a shed in my garden.
My work is grounded in observational drawing and storytelling, and I delight in noticing new details in familiar spaces. I like to share this joy through my work, creating subtle visual jokes and layers of narratives. My characterful, hand-drawn illustrations feature in projects including activity books and trails, murals, and a graphic novel.
Exhibition Dates
December 3rd 2025 - December 24th 2025
December 3rd 2025 - December 24th 2025
Previous Works ↓
