The Story of My Degree Show - Retrospective
I had the incredible privilege of showcasing my work at the 2025 Glasgow School of Art Degree Show. It was an unforgettable experience - not only to exhibit my paintings, but to speak with hundreds of people about how the work resonated with them. That kind of connection doesn’t happen every day, and I’ll always be grateful for it.
About the Work
The series I presented was part of my ongoing body of work titled “Common People.” It began in a personal place painting from old family photographs I found at my gran’s house. At first, I was simply choosing images that struck me visually, or ones that held a quiet kind of emotional weight. I was painting out of a sense of gratitude for my upbringing and surroundings, trying to document that nostalgia in a way that felt honest and familiar.
As the series developed, it grew beyond just family. It became about working-class life in central Scotland - the small, overlooked moments that shape us. Viewers found their own stories in the work. People told me the paintings reminded them of their own childhoods, their own families. That sense of connection meant everything to me.
What surprised me most was how the project evolved through conversations with peers, tutors, and online comments. Their input, memories, and reflections became part of the series itself. That ongoing exchange helped steer the direction of the work and shaped what eventually became my degree show.
You can read more about the project and how it developed in my first-ever publication, Common People, which documents the series from its beginnings to its exhibition at GSA. You can order it here:
Feedback from the Tutors
I’m happy to say the work passed assessment, and I’m very proud of that. Here’s some of the feedback I received from the GSA tutors:
They appreciated how the series explored themes of family, nostalgia, and everyday domestic life, drawing on a wide range of visual references that came through clearly in both the research and the painting style.
The title Common People (taken from the Pulp song) was described as witty and layered, reflecting my interest in Britpop and the emotional richness of ordinary working-class life - moments that are often overlooked but deeply felt.
Paintings such as Mum and Dad, Pop, and Dad’s Birthday were highlighted for their emotional impact, the use of raw surfaces, and how they captured small, familiar details from birthday cakes melting in the sun to the unmistakable light of central Scotland.
The overall show was described as heartfelt, generous, and accomplished. The conversations I had with viewers and how I brought their stories and suggestions into the work added a unique depth to the exhibition.
Reading these comments meant a lot to me. My time at GSA wasn’t always smooth sailing. For a while, I struggled to find my place and direction. There were scattered moments of success, but nothing that felt fully resolved. It wasn’t until fourth year, with the degree show as a clear goal, that things clicked. I gave it everything I had and I’m genuinely proud of the work I created.
After the Show
Four of the original paintings sold during the exhibition, which was something I hadn’t expected. I didn’t make this work with selling in mind, so it meant a great deal to me that people saw value in the paintings beyond the personal stories behind them. Each of the buyers said something along the lines of: “This reminds me of a time gone by.” They called the work nostalgic, sentimental but in a way that felt subtle and sincere. That feedback really touched me.
I’ve always wanted to make work that feels accessible and familiar, something that invites people in, rather than pushing them away. This experience has reaffirmed that path for me.
Final Thoughts
The degree show felt like a turning point, not just the end of my time at art school, but the beginning of something bigger. I’m more confident now in the kind of artist I want to be and the stories I want to tell. Thank you to everyone who came to see the work, shared their thoughts, and supported me in so many ways.
If you’re interested in staying up to date with future exhibitions or new work, you can follow along here:
