Hi, I’m Marley Darke, a second-year Graphic Design student at Leeds Arts University. Alongside my studies, I bring over four years of industry experience working on creative projects, collaborating with graphic designers, and producing digital art for exhibitions. I have a strong work ethic and a keen eye for visual storytelling. My passion for design and illustration began when I launched my own small business during the 2020 lockdown. Since then, I have worked on multiple exhibitions, collaborated with well-known celebrities and influencers, and traveled widely to seek inspiration from different cultures and live events.

Marley Darke

Hi, I’m Marley Darke, a second-year Graphic Design student at Leeds Arts University. Alongside my studies, I bring over four years of industry experience working on creative projects, collaborating with graphic designers, and producing digital art for exhibitions. I have a strong work ethic and a keen eye for visual storytelling. My passion for design and illustration began when I launched my own small business during the 2020 lockdown. Since then, I have worked on multiple exhibitions, collaborated with well-known celebrities and influencers, and traveled widely to seek inspiration from different cultures and live events.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Marley Darke, a second-year Graphic Design student at Leeds Arts University. Alongside my studies, I bring over four years of industry experience working on creative projects, collaborating with graphic designers, and producing digital art for exhibitions. I have a strong work ethic and a keen eye for visual storytelling.

My passion for design and illustration began when I launched my own small business during the 2020 lockdown. Since then, I have worked on multiple exhibitions, collaborated with well-known celebrities and influencers, and traveled widely to seek inspiration from different cultures and live events.

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Experience Level

Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Intermediate

Work Experience

Illustrator at High class company
January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024
Employed to create illustrations under strict brand guidelines and deadlines while maintaining contact with staff to ensure high-quality outcomes. Subject to an official secrecy act and non-disclosure agreement.
Illustrator & Designer at Ink Illustrations
March 1, 2020 - June 7, 2024
Founded own illustration business during lockdown. Created commissions for clients worldwide, designed logos, menus, social media posts, and worked with various creative mediums including Procreate, Photoshop, acrylic paint, drawing ink, and watercolour. Gained publicity and collaborations with celebrities and influencers.
Graphic Design Intern at Unspecified Graphic Design Internship
July 1, 2024 - June 7, 2024
Gained hands-on experience creating visual content for digital and print platforms. Collaborated on promotional materials adhering to brand guidelines. Developed industry-standard software proficiency and enhanced skills in a deadline-driven environment.
Sales Associate at Homesense
September 1, 2023 - June 7, 2024
Engaged with customers to understand their needs, achieved sales targets, contributed to inventory management, merchandising, and promotional strategy implementation.
English Second Language Mentor at Angloville
July 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023
Volunteered in Poland teaching English to children aged 12-16 through one-on-one and group activities. Adapted vocabulary for different English levels and supported children’s English presentations.
Sales Assistant, Concession Merchandiser & Social Media Manager at New Look
November 1, 2021 - August 31, 2023
Assisted customers, managed social media pages, promoted to concession stand manager responsible for merchandising and product knowledge. Handled POS transactions, maintained inventory and displays, provided customer service, and stayed updated with trends.
Illustrator at Confidential high class company
January 1, 2024 - March 31, 2024
Created illustrations under strict brand guidelines and deadlines using Procreate and Adobe Illustrator, maintaining communication with staff to exceed expectations. Signed a non-disclosure agreement for confidentiality.
Illustrator & Designer at Ink Illustrations
March 1, 2020 - April 27, 2024
Founded and operated a freelance illustration business from age 15, working on commissions worldwide, collaborating with celebrities and influencers, designing logos, menus, and social media posts. Skilled in various traditional and digital mediums including Procreate, Photoshop, acrylic paint, drawing ink, and watercolour.
Graphic Design Intern at Confidential
July 1, 2024 - April 27, 2024
Gained hands-on experience creating visual content for digital and print platforms, collaborating with designers on promotional materials, refining designs based on feedback, and ensuring project delivery. Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
Sales Associate at Homesense
September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024
Engaged customers by recommending products, exceeding sales targets, managing inventory and merchandising, and handling cash transactions. Contributed to promotional strategies to enhance store performance.
English Second Language Mentor at Angloville
July 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023
Volunteered teaching English to children aged 12-16 in Poland through individual and group activities, adapting language to proficiency levels and preparing children for English presentations. Earned a TEFL qualification.
Sales Assistant, Concession Merchandiser & Social Media Manager at New Look
November 1, 2021 - August 31, 2023
Assisted customers with purchases and fitting, ran social media pages, learned trends, managed a concession stand, merchandised products, handled transactions, and contributed to customer satisfaction and brand standards.

Education

GCSEs at Holderness Academy
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2020
A Levels at Wilberforce Sixth Form College
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
BTEC Level 3 Diploma at Wilberforce Sixth Form College
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
Foundation Diploma at Leeds Arts University
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025
GCSE at Holderness Academy
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2020
A Levels & BTEC Level 3 Diploma at Wilberforce Sixth Form College
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2022
Foundation Diploma at Leeds Arts University
January 1, 2022 - December 31, 2025

Qualifications

TEFL Qualification
January 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023
TEFL Qualification
July 1, 2023 - August 31, 2023

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Retail, Education, Travel & Hospitality, Professional Services, Other
    paper Woodend Mill Open Studios Poster
    I was commissioned to design a seasonal Halloween poster for Woodend Mill, where I combined my illustration and graphic design skills to create both a poster and a banner that captured the festive spirit of the event. I also collaborated with graphic designer Alex Darke on a Christmas poster, working together to produce cohesive, eye-catching visuals for the holiday season. In addition to these, I created a standalone poster for the Summer Open Day, using a different colour palette to reflect the lighter, more vibrant tone of the event. To support promotion on social media, I also designed an Instagram footer PNG that creatives could share alongside their work to help advertise the event. These projects allowed me to apply my creative abilities to seasonal branding and event promotion, adapting my design approach to suit different themes and audiences throughout the year. graphicdesigner poster flyer promotionaldesign