Courses Studied: UAL Extended Diploma in Photography, FdA Photography in Practice and BA (Hons) Lens-Based Media.

Where Are They Now? After completing his Degree at UCW, Joe has opened up his own gallery in the Scottish Islands that specialises in exhibiting and selling works from Scottish artists and makers, including some of his own unique abstract prints of the everchanging Hebrides’ landscape.  

The thing that really drew me to study with Creative Arts Weston was the areas of the curriculum that heavily focused on life after Uni. I always knew that I wanted to run my own business, so having honest and practical learning around things like working freelance, business tax and VAT was so useful. Even discussing and being encouraged to do my own research on more simple things like finding suppliers and social media marketing really supported me in my journey to set up my own business. The degree course puts a lot of emphasis on preparing learners for the reality of leaving education and what it’s actually like to work in the industry. This is something I really wanted from my university experience, something Creative Arts Weston does very well.  

The course naturally makes you feel confident in your photographic abilities, as you are gradually pushed to share your work online and among public exhibitions. This process made me believe that my work was not only good enough to share but also good enough to sell. Towards the end of my course, I set up an Etsy shop to sell my photography works and by the end of January 2021 I had made over 100 sales. The confidence to create the shop and to pursue it as thoroughly as I did, came from the self-belief and empowerment I gained from the course and my teachers at Creative Arts Weston. 

I am incredibly proud of everything I have achieved since graduating from Creative Arts Weston in 2020, even successfully opening my own gallery on the Isle of Lewis in the Scottish Highlands. Garenin Gallery, run by my brother and I, specialises in exhibiting and selling works from Scottish artists and makers, including some of my own unique abstract prints of the everchanging Hebrides’ landscape.  

I have been visiting the Scottish Outer Hebrides almost every year since I was very young. I have always felt like it was my second home and dreamed that I’d get to live there ‘one day’ but never actually considered it beyond that. During the start of my final year with Creative Arts Weston, I had already decided that I was going to be a landscape photographer. The degree course encouraged me to consider everything about my plans and aspirations – making me believe that my dream didn’t have to be just a dream – I could really make it happen. 

When lockdown started it convinced me even more that I wanted to wholeheartedly pursue living and working as a landscape photographer in the wild Scottish Highlands and islands. 

I am now selling my work off the gallery walls to paying customers, receiving great compliments, and to me that feels like a real accomplishment. I love this island and its people and can really see so much potential for me to expand my horizons as a photographer and gallerist in the years to come. 

I could say so much about my time at Creative Arts Weston and how valuable it was in teaching me lots about all different areas of photography. If I had to choose the two things that I feel were most influential in my decision to pursue opening a gallery, I’d definitely have to say the passion of my lecturers and the areas of the course that encouraged discussion of future goals and working freelance. My lecturers were very inspirational and provided the best support and guidance for me and the pursuit of my goals.