How I Put Together My Degree Show at GSA
When I first started planning how to install my Glasgow School of Art Degree Show, I had a pretty clear idea in mind. I imagined everything hung in a neat, straight line with plenty of space around each painting, the classic clean and minimal gallery style. It felt like the given way to present work in a Degree Show setting
But once I got into the process of actually hanging things and seeing the pieces together, I realised it needed something different. The paintings just seemed to come to life more when they were brought closer together. It created a more layered, slightly busier feel that just worked better. It reminded me of how pictures naturally build up over time on the walls in people’s homes, or how photos sit side by side in a family album. There’s something about that closeness that invites you to look a little longer and notice the small details.
This approach also felt right for the subject matter of my work. The paintings are part of my ongoing Common People Project - a series that celebrates everyday life and working-class family relationships. It’s a series of personal memories and old family photos, but also speaks to something wider and more universal. By hanging the works closer together, I wanted to create that same sense of familiarity and warmth you get when you’re surrounded by family pictures or treasured mementos at home. It makes the space feel lived in, rather than distant or overly formal.
Choosing this layout also meant I could include more of the work I’ve created over my 4th year at the Glasgow School of Art . I’ve put a lot into this final year at art school, and I wanted the show to reflect the scale of that, while still giving each piece its own space to breathe. It was about finding that balance: letting each painting have its own moment, while building up an overall feeling of connection and community between them.
I’m really happy with how it’s ended up. The display feels much more natural to me, and I hope it encourages people to slow down, take their time, and look around properly. I want visitors to spot the links between the pieces, feel that sense of shared experience, and maybe even see echoes of their own families and memories in the work.
The show is now all installed and ready to be assessed. After that, it’ll be open to the public from 30th May to 8th June at The Glasgow School of Art, Stow Building.
If you’d like a preview of the work and to learn more about The Common People Project, you can visit the Degree Show section on my website.
Hope to see you there!
