Award-winning crime writer Denise Mina was born in East Kilbride. After leaving school at 16, she worked in a series of low-paid jobs while studying at night school. She studied law at the University of Glasgow and it was while teaching criminology at the University of Strathclyde that Mina began to write fiction. Her novels include the Garnethill Trilogy (1998-2001), set in the Garnethill area of Glasgow. A number of Mina’s novels have been adapted for the screen and she has also written plays for stage and radio. Her novella, Rizzio (2021), is a reimagining of the murder of David Rizzio, private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots. Gerard M Burns trained at Glasgow School of Art and has painted many contemporary Scots including the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.