A PROMISING young artist has called for her work to be credited after weeks of silence from Darlington Market.

Meg McWilliam, 20, studied an Art Foundation degree at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, and it was her impressive skill and unique style that meant one of her pieces is now being showcased at the town centre location.

Repeated requests to the bosses at the market have gone unanswered though, and she has now told of up to three weeks of “missed opportunities” because of the lack of credit.

The 20-year-old’s art was produced for a market project as part of her foundation course and is inspired by Darlington’s Victorian Heritage and shows a woman sitting on top of the town’s clock tower.

But it was just after the opening of the revamped indoor market when Meg said she became aware her art was on display. After walking past her artwork she spoke of her shock to see it used without initially being told.

And despite contacting the market's bosses and being informed that her work would be credited she is yet to see any action taken.

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She added: “I contacted the market on September 2 and said ‘I’ve not been told’ but they said they didn’t think they had to tell the artists.

“I told them to credit me and they said it would be done by the end of the week. But three weeks later, no one is replying to me.”

The freelance artist relies on exposure and commission work and said the lack of a credit is a “kick in the teeth” for artists in the town.

“It would look really good to them because I’ve got quite a big online following,” she said.

“It’s three weeks of missed opportunities now where I could have sold some of my art.”

Other artists whose work is displayed around the market have also not been credited despite an ongoing council-led arts festival celebrating local creatives, currently ongoing in the town.

After sharing her experience online, Meg has received the backing of members of the public in her campaign.

Meg says her art, often critical of the current Government, is inspired by the Dada movement of the 1920s and 30s.

She has previously had her work on sale inside the Darlington pop-up event space Treasure in the Cornmill Shopping Centre and is now studying at Northumbria University.

Meg's artwork had still not been credited as of Friday afternoon. Darlington Market was contacted for comment but did not respond.

https://www.megmcart.com/

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