When Steven Graham retired from his 30 year role as an Inspector with Police Scotland, he returned to full time education.

Having taken evening classes in glass design, he went back to City of Glasgow College as a full time student to fulfil his interest in art glass and make it his new career.

He graduated with an HND in Art Glass Design in 2018 and in 2020 completed a BA (Hons) Art & Design with specialism in Glass Art.

“The college course offered much more than I anticipated. I improved my basic skills and was exposed to new ways of thinking; developing artistic ideas, applying designs to glass methods, and producing art to be proud of.

“The college encouraged me to exhibit my work and subject it to public and professional review. I was thrilled to win the Glasgow Trades House Craftex awards two years in a row, and bowled over when I received the highly regarded Quilter Cheviot Award for Excellence and Innovation.

“When asked to describe my course in one word, I said 'empowering'. The course content, the drive and enthusiastic support of the staff, and the opportunities I was given, did empower me.” 

In Steven’s final year at City of Glasgow College he took part in its annual John Mather Trust Enterprise competition, winning a cash prize for his business idea.

“This was the opportunity to start my business. The long term aim was to produce individually tailored art glass commissions and deliver art glass workshops to secondary school pupils; with the aim of promoting the medium of glass.”

Now graduated from university, having completed his dissertation during lockdown, Steven is concentrating on his business, In Glass, working on customer influenced art glass products, promoting the medium and opening up opportunities for the next generation of glass artists.