Sam Ainsley is an artist/teacher and until recently was Head of the MFA programme at Glasgow School of Art. She is now (informally) “International Ambassador” to the GSA and is teaching (part-time) in the Painting dept.

Since graduating in 1977 with a BA (Hons) Fine Art, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and again in 1978 with a Post Graduate Diploma (Distinction) from Edinburgh College of Art, Sam has forged a remarkable career within the visual arts sector nationally and internationally.

In 1991 Sam Ainsley founded the Master of Fine Art course and was the course Director since its inception until 2006. She has gained international recognition for the course with students coming from all over the world. Running in tandem with this, Ainsley founded and curated the MFA International Exhibition Programme. In 2004 she secured sponsorship to enable past and present students to exhibit internationally; in the USA, Europe, China and Japan with full-colour publications.

Since 1984 Sam has been a visiting artist/lecturer/researcher/external examiner both nationally and internationally. In addition Sam has curated independent exhibitions, exhibited her own work and undertaken residencies in numerous institutions or arts organisations across the USA, Australasia, Europe and the UK. She has been an invited Board member to numerous Arts organisations and is currently on the Board of Glasgow sculpture Studios.

Sam is a respected and published spokeswoman for the visual arts and her own artwork is in a number of public and private collections nationally and internationally.