Study Room Name Series: 6. The Finlay Room
International Women’s Week 2026 is a great time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across our communities. Here in the University of Dundee Library, one small way we do that is through the stories behind some of our study spaces.
If you’ve spent time in the DJCAD Library, you may already have come across the Finlay Room — a group study space named after artist and DJCAD graduate Shona Finlay.
A space for working together
The Finlay Room is designed for collaborative work. Whether you’re preparing a presentation, discussing a project with classmates, or simply looking for somewhere to work together, it’s a handy space to book.
The room offers:
- Seating for 7 people, with standing space for up to 6
- A presentation screen
- VGA and HDMI connectors for laptops
- Power sockets for charging devices
- An accessible seat/space
The Finlay Room
If you’re not quite sure where it is, our interactive library map will help you find it quickly inside the DJCAD Library.
Named after DJCAD graduate Shona Finlay
The room takes its name from Shona Finlay, who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 2003. During her time at DJCAD she received the Sandra McNeillance Memorial Award for Drawing and Painting.
Since graduating, Shona has built an impressive career as a painter. She has been exhibiting since 2002, including a successful solo show during the Edinburgh Festival, and her work has been sold to collectors around the world — including in New York, Berlin and Australia.
Jazz Painting
Shona Finlay
Oil on Canvas
Her paintings are often described as atmospheric and expressive, using bold brush marks that bring an immediacy and emotional energy to the work. Much of her practice explores the vulnerability of people within the spaces we live in, something that continues to drive her passion for painting.
Girl From The Art Shop Painting
Shona Finlay
Oil on Canvas
A reminder of what’s possible
For students studying in DJCAD today, spaces like the Finlay Room are a small reminder of the creative journeys that begin here.
Artists like Shona Finlay once sat in the same studios, worked through the same ideas and doubts, and went on to build careers that reached far beyond Dundee.
So next time you book the Finlay Room, take a moment to notice the name on the door. It’s not just a study space — it’s a quiet reminder of the talented woman who has been part of DJCAD’s story and continues to inspire the next generation of artists.
