Samo is a Portsmouth, UK-based artist and activist who focuses on intersectional gender identity and community. He has produced work for World Pride 2019 and founded an LGBTQ+ safe space scheme. He is Pearson’s latest BTEC Ambassador and is excited to share his experience of studying BTEC Art and Design, and the array of skills gained whilst studying at Havant and South Downs College.
- Primary School: I attended Hart Plain Junior School in Waterlooville, near Portsmouth in the south of England.
- High School: I then went on to study at The Petersfield School before going to Alton College (now part of Havant and South Downs College).
- University + major: Alton college, where I studied BTEC Art and Design
- Learning-related photo and story behind it: This photo is of me as a child at my grandparents' house where they always encouraged me to pursue art. In this picture I am wearing one of my very first 'painting outfits' that my grandparents put me in so that I could get absolutely covered in paint!
- In school I excelled at: mostly Art and Drama, as both gave me the freedom to express myself.
- In school I struggled with: Maths, and it's not something I enjoy now. Luckily, I have a great accountant and team of people who support me in my work, and we all lean on each other's skills.
- After school you could find me: either painting or skateboarding with friends.
- Troublemaker or Teacher's Pet?: I was definitely a troubler-maker in school, although those that know me probably wouldn't think it's that surprising!
- You'd be surprised to learn that in school I... was good at sport and was allowed to play in the boys' teams which I really enjoyed.
- In high school people thought I would grow up to be an: actor.
- Favourite teacher/professor and why: My drama teacher who allowed me to express myself and allowed me in her lessons when anything at school became too much
- Favourite book: Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
- First job: I worked as a kitchen porter at age 14.
- If I could do any job, it would be: (Doing it!) a professional Artist.
- The course I'd most like to take today: A sculpting course so I can explore even more mediums of art and continue to grow as an artist
- If I could have any celebrity as a teacher, I’d pick: the artist Alex Grey who is very well known for spiritual and psychedelic paintings, but also because he is multi-disciplinary so works in performance, process, installation, sculpture, visual and painted art.
- Today I learn the most from: meditation and constantly creatively experimenting.
- Do you learn best by reading, listening, or doing? Doing, I have always been a physical learner, I suppose that is why I became an artist.
- Best piece of career advice I ever received: Be you. Stay true to you. No one else can be you or make you what you create and that is what makes you great. Always make work that makes you happy. If it does not. Stop.
- My personal superpower is: being able to connect my work and what I do with others, whether that's friends and family, people who know my work locally, or strangers from across the world!