My CV – Thomas Gibbs

Education

Courtauld Institute of Art (Sept 2025 – June 2026) MA Art History

Full-ride Manton Scholar for British art
Focusing on 18^th and 19^th century Atlantic and Indian Ocean art and architecture
Dissertation – Beyond an ‘Eton in India’: architectural hybridity and princely
agency in the construction of Mayo College, Ajmere
Additional modules in curation and migrations in contemporary art

University of St Andrews (Sept 2021 – July 2025) MA (Hons) Art History, First Class

Miller Prize for most outstanding graduating student in the arts and humanities (18/20 GPA, Dean’s List every year)
OE Saunders Prize for best dissertation in Art History (19/20) – “But we gave them the railways!”: Railway architecture and Imperial ideology in Hong Kong, India, and Scotland
Additional modules in Medieval history, object digitisation, and decolonial museology
Three times winner of O E Saunders Prize for outstanding students in Art History
Mary Anderson Book Prize for best essay on Scottish history
Extracurriculars including Caledonian Society (reeling), rowing, and Beer Society (which I co-founded)

University of Hong Kong (2024 semester abroad)

4.12 GPA (A+ level)
Modules in Chinese literati paintings and calligraphy, Edo Japanese prints, Chinese ceramics, contemporary Chinese art, and ‘The Amateur’ in art history

Rugby School (2014 – 2021)

Web Admin – Turtle Engineering (July 2023 – Present), part-time

Work in a small, fast-paced team, taking ownership of projects from idea to execution
Copywriting and product photography (including photo manipulation in Photoshop)
Edit and optimise website using WordPress and basic HTML/CSS
Independently prototyped bleedmap.co.uk, a database which maps 4,400 bleed control kits across the UK, prioritising accuracy and attention to detail because this lifesaving information is shared with ambulance services
Used Zapier AI to integrate existing parts stockkeeping system with website sales/shipping systems – both of which I had to learn quickly – eliminating time-consuming manual re-entry of sales

Anonymous Helpline Volunteer (Sept 2021 – Present)

Interpersonal skills – Conduct freeflowing, high-pressure calls, quickly building trust and assessing caller needs
Handle sensitive conversations calmly, including crisis and suicide cases
Collaborate with team members to escalate and resolve complex situations
Manage office operations including expenditure, compliance, and minute-taking
Show discretion, prioritising anonymity and confidentiality at all times

British Council Fellowship at the Venice Biennale 2024 (June – July 2024)

Invigilated at the British Pavillion with a close-knit international team
Communicated artistic and practical points to guests from all backgrounds and with various levels of interest and understanding – including basic Italian communication
Independently developed artwork linking “intellectual invasion” in Venice and St Andrews

Dissertation Support – The Courtauld (October 2025 – Present)

Support undergraduate peers with their dissertations, leading group discussions and encouraging students who feel uncertain about their progress

Tutor (GCSE and A Level English and Politics) – Amar’s Tuition (February – July 2025)

Planned lessons around students’ individual needs
Adapted on the fly to students’ interests and weaknesses – including teacher feedback

Volunteer Invigilator – Gallery MK, Milton Keynes (June – September 2023)

Invigilated the Boyd and Evans’ retrospective, researching their oeuvre and adapting my explanations for a variety of audiences

Reviews Section Editor – HASTA (History of Art St Andrews) Magazine (Sept 2024 – July 2025)

Recruited, managed and developed a team of writers, setting deadlines, and delivering feedback
Reviewed, assessed, and edited submissions to meet quality and clarity standards
Before this role, I wrote for the Features section – for example on Carol Rhodes’ landscapes and Bill Brand’s Masstransiscope

Deputy Section Editor: Arts and Culture – The Saint (September 2021 – August 2024)

Researched, pitched, planned and wrote articles independently for every issue
Translated specialist topics into clear, engaging content for broad audiences
“Highly Commended” at the 2024 Student Publication Awards for article on the rise of wild swimming

St Andrews Research Internship Scheme (STARIS) (Summer 2023)

Diligently researched a dictionary of difficult terms for use teaching undergraduates
Wrote concise entries and edited them in response to feedback
Worked proactively and independently, reporting back once a month

Co-founder, Secretary, and Publicity Lead – St Andrews Beer Society (June 2024 – July 2025)

Built and marketed a new student society from launch
Led branding, digital promotion, ticketing, and customer communications, securing 200+ signups in three hours (highest at Freshers’ Fayre)
Managed payments, refunds, and stakeholder coordination
Liaised with venues, partners, and service providers to deliver well-received events – including brewery tours, tastings, and lectures – resulting in a society award from Fife CAMRA for engaging young people with social and economic issues facing brewers and pubs

Art History Class Representative (3^rd Year and Undergraduate EDI Representative, October 2023 – July 2024)

University Hall Committee (September 2021 – July 2022)

Organised events for a hall of 500 students
Led last-minute relocation of our Christmas ceilidh when a storm closed the hall, delegating specific roles to the team to ensure speed

Warehouse Operative – Tesco Frozen (June – August 2022)

Showed resilience working 12-hour shifts in very adverse conditions (minus 22 degrees)
Manual handling and packing skills applicable in diverse contexts
Responded to line manager feedback immediately to improve performance

References available on request.