Looking into the absurdity of the things considered to be Scottish I started to feel a sense of freedom from my newfound understanding, that the concept of national identity is in many cases based on fictional events and altered facts.

When encountering an unplanned obstacle or stepping out of your comfort zone, stop to sharpen the axe, tune into your soul and look out for alternative solutions that feel fresh and true to your vision—those will be ‘the ones’.

It’s easy to get protective of your designs and want to be in control of the whole process. I am used to wood and to my father as the maker. Trusting someone new to realise design was a big challenge.

I’ve learned with each photoshoot that when you think through every possible twist or turn and prepare for when something goes awry, you can create something that is even better than what you expected.