A DRUMCHAPEL student who landed a prestigious internship says his upbringing in one of Glasgow’s poorest areas “pushed” him into achieving his goals.

Nathan McWilliams, one of the first cohort to complete the new, fully-funded programme at V&A Dundee, said: “Growing up in Drumchapel in a single-parent family had its challenges, but it pushed me and got me where I am.

"I'm proud of where I came from."

As part of the programme, Nathan produced a personal project, called “I’m Not Just a Poor Boy”.

“It was inspired by my upbringing,” explained the 24-year-old, who went to St Clare’s Primary in Drumchapel and St Peter the Apostle High in Clydebank.

“I wanted to look at the barriers working class people face in the creative industries. I interviewed lots of people and we held an open mic night in a local pub, which was brilliant. Just hearing everyone’s experiences, realising - in a positive way - that I wasn’t unique, was great.”

Nathan adds: “My mum died when I was seven, my dad has always been really supportive of me wanting to be creative. He’s a joiner, so he’s always making stuff and when I was wee, I used to watch him.

“But when I told other people what I wanted to do, some would look at me like I was stupid, or thought I was better than them, which goes back to this view that the creative industries are middle class.”

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Funded by Tim Allan, the design museum’s chairperson, the internships will benefit 21 students from the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. Interns receive the Real Living Wage to support them financially.

Tim Allan said: “I am delighted to be able to support the University of Dundee through a three-year commitment to the Allan Internships, offering Masters students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design the opportunity to undertake these placements with the support of a living wage stipend.

“The role that culture plays in the coherence of our society has never been more important and it’s a privilege to be able to support the next generation of creative talent as they explore and refine their practice through practical experience. The future is safe in their hands.  

“As Chair of V&A Dundee, our partnership with the University of Dundee is of great significance to me, and the Allan Internships programme is an excellent demonstration of how it continues to flourish.”

Nathan, who worked in McDonald’s while he was at college and then university, said: “This is the first time I’ve not worked while I studied, which meant I could focus 100 per cent on this, on making sure I got everything I needed from this opportunity.

“It’s been really excellent.”

In the story he wrote for “I’m Not Just a Poor Boy”, Nathan said: “I’m going to do something inherently un-scottish. Have pride in myself. The pessimism, honesty and doom and gloom only tell part of the story. Just like ‘The Drum’ there is more to me than the headlines.”

Nathan is looking forward to coming back to Drumchapel, which is celebrating its 70th birthday this year.

“The D70 celebrations look great, bit of a shindig,” he said. “One of my big goals is to do a project in Drumchapel, working with people who faced the same barriers as me.”