Dalzell Distributors

I made Dalzell Distributors to hold the eccentric charm of an old-fashioned, crammed-to-the-rafters clothing shop and to gently reimagine one of its most memorable details: the oversized pair of trousers that once stood outside beneath a hand-lettered “massive trouser sale” sign. In this silkscreen I turn that small, quirky moment into a simple visual story that nods to the humour and character of these local places.

At the centre of the print is the oversized pair of trousers, printed in a clear, pure blue. By enlarging this everyday object I wanted it to read almost like an icon - familiar but slightly strange - so the viewer can notice shape and movement rather than just a literal garment. The pared-back lines and shapes aim to keep the image direct while still suggesting flow and rhythm.

The white lines that frame the composition are meant to feel like markings on a field, hinting at the shop’s packed interior as a kind of arena to move through. That comparison is quiet rather than literal: it’s a way of suggesting the energy and negotiation involved in navigating a busy, small shop.

A looping red sale sign repeats the word SALE. The red against the blue borrows the blunt language of retail signage - loud, insistent - but I hope it reads as a wry observation rather than a sermon about consumerism. There’s a little smile in the gesture, and a small invitation to notice the absurdity that makes these places memorable.

The piece is intentionally minimal but layered. Under the playful surface I’m thinking about the resourcefulness of independent shops, how they make the most of limited space, and the eccentric details that stick with you.

Part of the Hidden High Street series, Dalzell Distributors is my quiet tribute to British high street culture: a celebration of the creativity and character of local shops, where even a pair of trousers can start a story.