I recently spoke with Teignmouth-based artist Laura Wall about her artwork,
her shop and her passion for inspiring children to love art.
Laura’s Story
Always captivated by art, Laura took art GCSE a year early, and encouraged by teachers and family she achieved the highest grade possible. By the age of seventeen Laura was exhibiting in galleries across Devon and won numerous awards and competitions. At eighteen, Laura received a scholarship for Aberystwyth University of Wales and achieved a first-class honours degree in Fine Art and Illustration.
“I’ve always loved painting – my mum says
I was born with a pencil in my hand!”
After university Laura worked as an Edit Assistant for a television company, but after three years she found it wasn’t fulfilling and her overwhelming passion for art led her to hand in her notice and make the leap into working full-time as an artist. Within a year 20 galleries were stocking her work and she knew that the leap into art was going to be successful.
Laura Wall Gallery and Shop
In 2015 Laura opened her own gallery, which has now tripled in size and can be found in the heart of Teignmouth’s Arts Quarter. Apart from the prints for sale, the shop stocks many other items which are decorated with Laura’s artwork: ceramics, lamps, kitchenware, gifts, stationery, candles, jigsaws, bags, scarves and even gin and rum! The spirits are distilled by Exeter Gin, who are also based in Teignmouth.
The colours and designs in the gallery give you a summer vibe even in the midst of winter!
Laura has won many awards including National Art Retailer of the Year in 2022 by the Fine Art Trade Guild Awards, after coming Runner-Up in 2019. She also won the Best Devon Art Gallery award in 2017 and 2019 and her Strawberry and Vanilla Seaside Gin made it to the finals of the Great British Good Awards in 2021.
Laura Wall's Artwork
Laura’s artwork is vibrant and contemporary and many feature seaside scenes, particularly of her beloved Teignmouth. She creates fun and playful scenes in bold, bright colours with her trademark clouds and characters with her unique pen and watercolour style. Apart from the coastal scenes, she has also produced artwork featuring city scenes and other Devon landmarks.
“Teignmouth is a beautiful and inspiring place with a
vibrant community and incredible landscape, and it
has been the focus of many of my paintings.”
The paintings have so much attention to detail and if you look closely you can find returning characters such as Goose & Sophie and Cat & Mouse.
Laura's books
While Laura was at University, she wrote and illustrated her first children’s book, GOOSE. After its success, she continued to write and illustrate more books in the Goose series and there are now 14 books in the award-winning series which is published by Award Publications. The books are sold all around the world, translated in 16 languages and available in over 40 countries.
She also visits schools in the UK and overseas to lead creative writing and art workshops with children. She loves to read her stories and do book signings to inspire children to love art.
Laura’s artwork can be seen in her shop, The Laura Wall Gallery, 10 Northumberland Place, Teignmouth, Devon, TQ14 8DD or on her website – www.laurawall.com
