These students are the future.

They may go on to become award-winning artists or household names.

But the biggest moment of their lives so far is just around the corner – it is Glasgow School of Art's Annual Degree Show.

More than 20,000 people are expected to converge at the show, which is sponsored by Sky Park, and takes place from Saturday until June 18, at the GSA's Garnethill Campus.

It will feature the work of more than 400 graduating students from the Schools of Fine Art, Design and Architecture, and gives the public the chance to snap up masterpieces at decent prices.

The Evening Times was given a peak behind the scenes as the students battle through 12-hour days to get their pieces ready.

The famous Charles Rennie Mackintosh Building has already started the transformation from educational space to jaw-dropping gallery.

Students and staff are balancing on ladders as works of art, including part of a car, are being hung.

In a pristine white studio painting and printmaking fourth-year student Leeanne McKenna, 21, from Calton, is organising the paperwork to go along with her striking acrylic paintings, which show how Glasgow's East End – and how she – is changing.

Her paintings include well-known places in the area including the Tolbooth, Braemar Bar, Bairds Bar and the Barrowland.

Leeanne said: "I think my work documents transition.

"It's not a goodbye but it shows things are changing, there's going to be a lot of uncertainty in my life and I suppose in a way I'm leaving my old self.

"The East End is changing, too. I mean there's all this regeneration happening but when I look at shops I see shutters and shops that have burned down."

During her time at art school Leeanne, who went to St Mungo's Academy, helped her friend set up IRONBBRATZ, a community studio based in the city centre.

She said: "I have done things I never thought I'd be able to do before. Coming to art school can be a bit of a culture shock but once you settle down here you're fine.

"These past few months have been the best part of the four years I've been here.

"There's been a real buzz about the place and everybody's just come together as a group and helped each other out."

In between gold shimmering lights made out of white stilettos (yes, really) another student Gabriella Boyd, 22, who lives in Finnieston, is arranging her impressive pieces which she says are about the containment of people.

Gabriella, who was born in Glasgow before moving to London, said: "The art scene in Glasgow has been so inspirational, especially with all the galleries that have opened recently. The alumni who have come from here are so inspiring"

Author and painter Alasdair Gray, Scotland's makar Liz Lochhead and Oscar winning actor Peter Capaldi are just a few of famous faces to have gone to the school.

And, not to add to the pressure, but three Turner Prize winners – Richard Wright, Douglas Gordon and Simon Starling – graduated from the GSA. Two of the four current nominees for the 2011 Turner – Karla Black and Martin Boyce – also hailed from the institution.

But this doesn't phase Miranda Vane, who comes from Cumbria, but now lives in Glasgow's West End.

The 24-year-old, who is exhibiting collages and digital prints, said: "If I can just be doing art in 10 years' time that will be an achievement. To make a living out of my art would be something else.

"Coming to study in the Mac building has been inspiring, I don't think I'll ever work somewhere as beautiful as this. So many things have inspired me here – like St Peter's Seminary in Cardross.

"I think Glasgow is good at looking forward to the future and not being too precious about the past and I really like that about it."

All the students traditionally hold a street party outside the campus after the degree show finishes.

But this will be the last year the party can happen because a £50million upgrade of GSA will be under way next year.

The development is a two-phase project to create an urban campus to replace several existing buildings, but it will not replace the Mackintosh main building.

Student Leeanne said: "I can't wait for the street party when the degree show finishes. I think it's the only way art school people can graduate, the whole graduation gowns with the tipping of hats isn't for us, spilling out on to the street is the only way we do it."