Showing my Common People series at SaltSpace Gallery in Glasgow
Here’s a look back at my October 2025 exhibition at SaltSpace Gallery and how the series continues to evolve.
SaltSpace Gallery (Image: John Sanger)
I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to show my Common People series at SaltSpace Gallery in the southside of Glasgow in October 2025. The series means a lot to me. It began by looking at old family photos and using them as painting references. At first, the paintings mainly revolved around themes of nostalgia and sentiment, looking back at a time gone by.
Kick About, Emulsion, Acrylic & Spray Paint on Canvas, 120x100cm, 2025
The more I developed the work during my final year at the Glasgow School of Art, the more it became less of a time capsule and more of a curated body of work focused on representation, class, family relationships and the everyday moments that shaped my life growing up in central Scotland. During group crits and when showing the paintings together as a collection, people often commented on how relatable these scenes felt, which only pushed the series forward and helped me understand what I was really trying to say with it.
Degree Show (Image: Ivory Mclaughlin)
At my degree show in June 2025, I was pleased with the reaction the work received and touched by the conversations I had with complete strangers who I found I had a lot in common with. Little things like caravan holidays, back garden birthday parties and housing schemes all featured in my paintings, and it was moving to see how they resonated with people. It felt like we were all sharing in a kind of collective memory.
Once my degree show had finished, I was eager to get the work back on show in Glasgow before the end of the year. After a bit of work trying to organise something, I managed to secure a space at SaltSpace Gallery, a group specialising in creating accessible spaces for emerging artists and recent graduates - a great fit.
Degree Show (Image: Kyle Blain)
I installed the exhibition on Monday the 13th of October, and everything fell into place naturally, which was a relief. It was great to have a lot more space to work with this time compared to the degree show. There, I wanted to show as many paintings as possible without overcrowding the space, which was a bit of a challenge. At SaltSpace, I had much more room to play with, which allowed for a clearer, more linear hang and gave the show a really natural flow. I’ve found too that the degree show can be quite overwhelming for visitors at times, with hundreds of artworks on display, so it was refreshing to have a calmer environment where people could take their time and spend more time with the work in full.
SaltSpace Installation (Image: Kyle Blain)
The opening took place the following evening, the 14th of October, and I’d been nervous about it for months prior. I just wanted it to be a success at the end of the day and have people come to enjoy the work. We set up refreshments, added the final touches and opened the doors. I was delighted with the turnout and spent the whole night chatting away about the work and all sorts of things. It was a brilliant evening, and I’m very thankful to everyone who came along.
Another big thank you to John Sanger (@john_sanger_) for documenting the night - here’s some of his photos below:
Opening Night (Image: John Sanger)
The rest of the week brought plenty of lovely conversations and thoughtful insights from visitors. It was great to hear how people connected with the work from all walks of life, and I’m glad it came across as something universally relatable.
Opening Night (Image: John Sanger)
For me, I hope the series is mainly about representation and the ability for people to recognise themselves in contemporary art, especially for those who don’t often see themselves reflected in it. I want to show small, overlooked moments and frame them as snapshots of everyday life that hold meaning and value. I’m glad people were able to connect with some of this.
My First Birthday, Emulsion & Acrylic on Canvas, 100x70cm, 2025
More recently, I’ve been thinking more about which scenes resonate most with people, and it seems to be the outdoor ones with houses and familiar imagery. To push the series forward, I think it would be interesting to take new photos that fit the same concept but don’t rely so heavily on nostalgia. It’s pushed me to look beyond my own family photos and think about shared stories from others too.
Lollipop Lady, Emulsion, Acrylic & Spray Paint on Canvas, 50x70cm, 2025
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported the show. As Common People continues to grow, I’m excited to see where it takes me next!
I’ll keep you posted!
