“Common People”
Working-Class Stories.
My final year at GSA, found my practice to be focused on telling the stories of working-class life in Clackmannanshire, the area of central Scotland where I grew up. Drawing from old family photographs, my work captures a sense of nostalgia, sentiment, and quiet gratitude for simple, candid everyday moments. Using mainly household emulsion paints, I aim to preserve and celebrate the overlooked details of ordinary lives, offering a glimpse into the shared experiences of a community often underrepresented in contemporary art
These works are part of an ongoing project titled “Common People”
See the Work In Person
A selection of this work will be shown publicly at the Glasgow School of Art Degree Show from 30 May to 8 June 2025. You can find my work on the first floor of the Stow Building. Entry is free and open to the public.
43 Shamrock Street, Glasgow G4 9LD
About the Series.
‘Common People’ is a growing series of paintings rooted in the everyday. The title reflects the people I paint, family members, neighbours, and local characters. It also hints at the shared, often overlooked stories that make up our communities. These aren’t dramatic scenes. They’re kitchen chats, holidays, hand-me-down football kits, and the kind of genuine moments that feel personal but oddly universal. The aim is to capture a kind of emotional truth, one that doesn’t shout but lingers.
Materials & Process.
Many of the paintings are made using household emulsion, layered with acrylics and spray paint. I like how the materials reflect the subjects, they’re accessible, practical, and unfussy, like the people I paint. I’m not trying to recreate a photo exactly, I’m trying to make something felt. Sometimes that means working quickly and instinctively, leaving in imperfections that mirror the realness of the moment.
Why It Matters
Growing up in Clackmannan, Scotland, I rarely saw the kind of life I knew reflected in galleries or textbooks. That’s a big part of what drives this work. I want to document something honest, to paint not just people, but the feeling of belonging to a close-knit community. These paintings are about love, routine, resilience, and the small details that quietly make up a life. It’s about making art that feels familiar, accessible, and true.
One of the most personal works in the show is a painting of my Pop, my mum’s dad, who passed away before I got the chance to really know him. The pose I painted is based on what my gran calls his “model pose”, a kind of cheeky stance he’d often strike in photos. I scaled this piece up larger than others to reflect his presence in the family, even though my memories of him come secondhand.
Each piece holds a personal connection that I hope can be extended and felt as a first time viewer.
If you’d like to get in touch, whether to chat about the work, share a story, or ask about sales or opportunities, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me by email or through my social media below. Thanks for taking the time to explore my work.
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