Proud to be a new SSA professional artist member 2025

I admit that I bought into the story of the lone artist for so many years, before realising that actually one of the most valuable parts of being an artist, and indeed one of the many joys, is finding a group of like-minded people where you belong. The big challenge, of course, is to find a group you want to belong to, and then for them to accept you as a member!

I have been an active artist member of the Society of Scottish Artists, also known as the SSA, for many years, and applied for their open exhibitions many times. Only in more recent years, as my work began to develop towards a more authentic voice, did I begin to gain acceptance to show with this highly respected and established group of contemporary artists here in Scotland. I feel at home with this group of artists. I view with admiration their member’s work online, and in their physical exhibitions, and know that this is a society of artists promoting the art that I believe in. For me, that was absolutely vital.

Last month, I tentatively applied to become a fully fledged Professional Artist member of the SSA. I had fulfilled the criteria of exhibiting twice with the SSA in a juried show, but I say tentatively, because there is never any guarantee  that you will be successful, as there are few places available and always so many applicants. Plus I do tend to err on the glass half full attitude, so I don’t get too disappointed 🙂

But this was to be my year!

I was so excited that I could have burst when I read that I had been accepted to become one of the 18 new professional Society of Scottish Artist members for 2025.

I cannot express how honoured I am to put SSA after my name and I feel that this is a start of a whole new chapter in my art career, as well as my creative life. With this new accolade, I intend to embrace risk and exploration in my new work and develop a much more regular working practice.

So here I am, celebrating being officially professional,

Fiona Wilson SSA x