THE first time he applied, the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) said no.

Now they've awarded Clydebank artist Jack McCombe their highest honour at his graduation.

The 21-year-old went to Edinburgh Napier for two years when GSA rejected him, pushed on by two former teachers from Clydebank High who continue to cheer him on.

Last week, Jack was given the Newbery Medal, praising his exploration of photography into more than just snaps of objects or people - he looks at the materials and process itself as art.

His Fine Art Photography department head, said: "We're immensely proud that Jack has won the Newbery Medal

“He's such a dedicated, hard working student who has contributed so much to the course and to his classmates.

“Jack's work has grown from its photographic roots, and he makes sculptural installations with ordinary, often banal materials (e.g. polystyrene, glass, paper, graphite). His work is informed by comprehensive studies and explorations of philosophy.

“He's a truly worthy recipient of this award, and I am absolutely delighted for him."

Gavinburn Primary alumni Jack said he was honoured to get the prize - and meet up with Clydebank High teachers Jackie McGoldrick and Nicola O'Hare with fellow graduate and Bankie Kathryn McKerrall after graduating for a bit of karaoke.

He said: "Those teachers backed me up. They have been an integral part of everything so far. They always pushed me to go beyond expectations.

"If you keep believing in the fact you should be somewhere, you shouldn't give up on iut. I feel the rejection from GSA did benefit me. When I applied two years later, I returned with a clear idea of what I wanted to do.

"You're not losing time to go somewhere else to do something rather than just through a direct route. I think it's better that way."

Jack enjoyed taking photos when he was younger but eventually wanted to do more with it, exploring ow photography is used and why.

He explained: "In the past couple years I have used my time to look through that and how photography can allow us to understand artwork. To look at a photograph is like looking at an art work.

"You look at it to see something beyond. I've moved from using photographs to using sculptural elements."

In Jack's degree show, he used graphite powder and crushed newsprint paper, while in another part, it included polystyrene board - paper and chemicals and items all involved in the photography process.

"It was not just about photos or being a photographer - it was something more," he added: "We trust the photo so much we believe that's what happened."

Jack now hopes the prize will help him apply for a masters after he takes a year off to build his own professional art practice.