A FORMER Darlington student will be giving a free exhibition of her work this summer after being inspired by the region’s museums.

Sara Cooper, a graduate from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, will be showcasing her project, ‘The Collections’ from July 6 to August 7 at Darlington Town Hall.

The exhibition is a new body of work inspired by local museum collections and has been informed by Sara’s time spent working at Darlington’s Head of Steam Railway Museum as well as Middlesbrough’s Dorman Museum.

The project invites others to consider the idea of collecting and discover collections in local museums for themselves.

It also encourages people to celebrate local and social history.

Young people, studio artists and members of the public have also been invited to take part in drawing and making workshops across the Tees Valley ahead of the exhibition.

A one night show of Sara's work is also taking place in The Coop, Dundas House, Middlesbrough, on Thursday (July 2) from 6pm to 8pm, as well as a special event for artists interested in exhibiting their own contributions on Saturday, July 4 at Darlington Town Hall between 12pm and 1.30pm.