Our Story

we began with a simple idea: people should have a place to create

What began as conversations between photographers grew in to something a little more. We sought to build a place where artists and photographers could engage with one another and help foster creativity and the arts among the community. And now thanks to a vacancy at Paisley Shopping Centre and EP Spaces, we finally have the opportunity to do so

Rather than rushing in to a fully fitted out premises, we're taking baby steps, with the help of the local community, to fit out this shared studio space with donated chairs, desks, shelves and kit.

Mint Creative is a volunteer led and community focused collective, and as such, we're encouraging artists of all abilities or levels of experience, people looking to get back in to the fold of creativity and general community minded individuals to get down to the shop and lend their aid and/or equipment to the setup of this space.

This is only the beginning and we can't wait to see what the future holds.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT // 03 Shaunee I have always had a love for photography from a young age. I would always beg to use to the point and shot cameras on holidays After graduating with a BA (Hons) Performing Arts degree in 2018 and auditioning for everything and anything the pandemic hit putting that side of my life on hold, I bought myself a camera after years of not touching one to find a way to fill my days when my partner and I would go out for drives to the local graveyards. I slowly fell back into love with everything to do with photography my work focuses on film photography, portraits, slice of life, the queer community that I am a proud member of and mental health. thank you to @rusikpix for the headshot

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT // 02 Hello, I’m Caitlin! I started my photography journey 6 years ago now, chasing butterflies in my garden with my phone camera during that amazing lockdown summer we had. I’ve since gone on to study photography at City of Glasgow College, and Glasgow Kelvin College, before taking a leap by moving to the Outer Hebrides back in January. I’m usually known to be working with a Polaroid camera, a format which has became my personal preference to work with in the last year or so. There’s just something about the way it makes me slow down, and how it can be so beautiful imperfect, that works for me. My practice mostly comprises of documentary photography, experimentation, and community work. I’m always open to trying new things, and seeing where they take me. I also volunteer with Stirling Photography Festival, and a mental health charity over in the Outer Hebrides. My studies have opened so many doors for me, so I’m doing what I can to keep that momentum going now that I’ve closed that chapter. I’m excited to be apart of Mint Creative, and to see where our wee venture takes us. Due to my distance, I’ll be involved more remotely, but I’ll definitely be making use of Mint’s studio space whenever I’m back visiting the mainland 🙌🏼

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT // 01 Hi, I'm Owen. Photography has completely changed my life. Three years ago, I took a chance on myself. with lil compact Sony camera, a few YouTube tutorials and a lot of doubt, I moved from Newcastle to Glasgow to study photography. At the time, I had no idea if I'd made the right decision. I remember wondering if I'd thrown myself in at the deep end or if I was even cut out for it. Looking back now, it was the best decisions I've ever made (so far) Photography has introduced me to incredible people, given me confidence and completely changed the way I see the world. I never expected to fall in love with photography as much as I have, but it's become my favourite way to connect with people and interact with the world. It's also helped me come out of my shell more than I ever imagined. my work mainly focuses on portraiture and documentary photography. I'm still super new to all of this and still learning every day One of the best parts of studying photography was being surrounded by other creative people who were always willing to share ideas, support each other and collaborate. I wanted to create a space that had that same feeling, a place where people can make work, learn from one another, collaborate and simply enjoy being creative together.

5 DAYS TO GO!! Over the next few days, we thought we'd introduce you to some of the creatives who'll be helping bring all this to life. Keep an eye out for our Artist Spotlights, where we'll be sharing a little about each artist, and their work We can't wait for you to meet everyone.

SIX DAYS TO GO!!! Thought we'd give you a bit of an idea of what we're hoping to build with Mint Creative and the space once we pick up the keys next week. Community exhibitions Creative meetups Zine making & independent publishing Artist talks & portfolio evenings Affordable shared studio space A welcoming creative community Also a little teaser of a project/zine that's currently in the works We've got loads of ideas and can't wait to start bringing them to life. If you fancy being part of it, or even helping out along the way, just drop us a DM or send us an email at mintcreative26@outlook.com. And yes I did have to stick down prints with old tester stickers because I forgot glue so if you do see some QR codes and prints flying about you know why

One week from today, we'll be collecting the keys to our new space!! It's a strange feeling knowing that something we've spent months talking about, planning and working towards is finally becoming real. today we've launched our website (link in bio btw), and over the past few months planned the space, reached out to local organisations, met some amazing people and been overwhelmed by the support we've received. In just seven days, we'll walk into an empty unit and begin transforming it into a place for photography, creativity and community. There's still a lot of work ahead, but we couldn't be more excited to get started :)

8 days to go!!

OUR GOALS

Although we are just embarking on this journey, Mint Creative hopes to be a place that nurtures creativity, collaboration, and community.

As the studio grows, we hope to provide:

Community exhibitions

Creative meet ups

Zine making workshops and independent publishing

Artist talks and portfolio evenings

Learning opportunities for emerging creatives

Affordable shared studio space

A supportive creative community

Community Support

Mint Creative would not be what it is today without the encouragement and support of those who believed in the vision at the earliest stages.

Glasgow Kelvin College allowed us to develop the confidence, skills and network needed to lead us to establishing Mint Creative. Exploring our passion for photography and engaging in a supportive environment inspired us to create opportunities for others through collaboration and to encourage others to share their skills.

As we move forward on this new exciting journey, we are overwhelmed by the support we have already received from local organisations.

We would like to extend our appreciation to:

EP-Spaces for giving us this amazing opportunity to transform an empty unit into a community creative space

Glasgow Kelvin College for supporting us and inspiring us to follow our dreams and make it happen

and all those who have donated their time, furniture, equipment and knowledge to help us make it happen.

It is through the help of so many people that Mint Creative has become a reality and we would like to express our deepest gratitude to them all

As we approach the 29 th of July and the keys to the new premises are handed over, we look forward to meeting new people and developing new relationships. We are determined to make this project a success and we hope you will join us on this journey.

Join the Journey

Mint Creative is only just beginning, and we'd love for you to be part of what comes next.

Whether you're an artist, photographer, designer, student, volunteer, local organisation or someone with a passion for creativity, there's a place for you here.

Together, we're building a creative community where people can connect, learn and inspire one another.

Ways to Get Involved

Become a Member
Join our growing creative community and help shape the future of Mint Creative.

Volunteer
Share your time and skills to help us develop the studio, organise events and support the community.

Donate Equipment or Furniture
Have desks, chairs, shelving or creative equipment you no longer need? Your donation can help us transform the space.

Exhibit or Collaborate
We're always looking to work with artists, photographers, community groups and organisations on new ideas and projects.

Say Hello
Whether you have a question, an idea or simply want to visit the studio, we'd love to hear from you.

Use the form below and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.