Glasgow's students display winning work at Trades House

13 students from Glasgow Clyde College were awarded first place in a range of categories from art, fashion, floristry and hairdressing to music instruments, metal sculpture, video/DVD and textile design at this year’s Craftex Exhibition.

The three-day exhibition hosted at The Trades House of Glasgow provides a platform for the very best work from students across the city’s three colleges, and an opportunity to showcase their work at a public exhibition.

Stringed Musical Instrument Making and Repair student, Alan Forsyth scooped the Gold Medal Winner award for his hand-crafted musical instrument. This is Alan’s second year winning at Craftex.

Alan said: “Craftex is a really great opportunity for students across Glasgow to show our skills to the public and share our passion for the different trades.  It’s great to have people viewing my work and be the Gold Medal Winner this year.

Alan’s instruments, alongside those made by his fellow classmates, were recently used by professional musicians at this year’s Luthier’s Concert as part of the West End Festival.

He continues: “It’s incredibly nerve-wracking watching professional musicians play your instruments in-front of a live audience, but hopefully they were impressed. They provided us with feedback as part of our final assessment which is extremely useful for progression. I’m looking forward to starting my next project.”  

Paul Hyland, lecturer at Glasgow Clyde College said: “Alan Forsyth produced an excellently crafted musical instrument and we are very happy that this has been recognised and his hard work rewarded in the Craftex competition.  This is also the fourth time that the Musical Instrument Making course at Glasgow Clyde College has won the Gold Award.” 

Craftex is a free public exhibition which brings together students from Glasgow Clyde College, City of Glasgow College and Glasgow Kelvin College to display a wide range of crafts produced and created by students throughout the year.

Image shows Alan Forsyth with Anita Brown of Quilter Cheviot, Craftex sponsors