Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Websites
Timeline
Generic

Shona Finlay

Summary

I have acquired skills in administration, management, education, sales and hospitality. Organised and efficient, l work well as part of a team or as an individual taking responsibility in a number of areas.
I have always thrived in a team environment but feel confident in showing independent initiative with experience in retail, education, travel and hospitality. I am assured in my abilities to follow instructions while also conscientiously aiming to go above and beyond what is expected of me. I am enthusiastic, pleasant and approachable, and have developed considerable communication skills through working in diverse roles and contexts. I am highly organised and motivated, ensuring the greatest focus and attention in all the work I undertake.
I am passionate about creative work, food, education, travel, fashion and meeting new people from different cultures. Having a curiosity and passion to learn and actively work on my continuous professional development adapting to various roles and environments.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Artist

01.2001 - Current
  • I have been exhibiting throughout Europe, Australia and America selling to an International audience. My work has featured on many publications and on television
  • I continue to produce work for exhibition and commissions.

Visitor Experience

The National Museum of Scotland
08.2023 - 01.2024
  • I worked for the National Museum of Scotland as a member of the Visitor Experience team
  • Working front of house l would meet and greet visitors to establish their area of interest so that l could assist them to ensure they would have a great visitor experience.

Sales Advisor

The Whisky Shop
09.2022 - 06.2023
  • At the Whisky Shop l was trained to advise and recommend select whiskies to customers who were both visitors and locals
  • Also l would help out at our whisky tasting events which are held in the evenings after work and are generally lead by brand ambassadors.

Sales Advisor

Kiltane
02.2022 - 06.2022
  • My work involved advising and serving customers visiting Edinburgh from around the globe
  • Selling Harris Tweed, cashmere and other goods to visitors
  • Doing fittings to ascertain right cut and size of products and answering questions regarding the products
  • Cash handling, stock replenishment and daily cleaning duties
  • Working as part of a team as well as working independently selling to groups of tourist in our busy spells.

Customer Service Advisor

Boots
11.2021 - 01.2022
  • I worked on the shop floor as a Customer Adviser
  • The role involved placing online orders, restocking and serving customers
  • (Temporary role over lock down period).

Bakery Assistant/Production

Shortbread House of Edinburgh
09.2021 - 11.2021
  • I worked at the Shortbread House of Edinburgh as a Bakery Assistant
  • This position involved the preparation and packaging of shortbread and cakes for buyers worldwide over the busy period in the lead up to Christmas
  • (Temporary role over lock down period).

Baker /Online Orders

ASDA
01.2021 - 08.2021
  • At ASDA l was preparing online orders and attending to various other tasks within the store over the busy period
  • Due to lockdown, extra staff were employed on a temporary basis to help with the amount of online orders
  • I also worked in the onsite bakery preparing goods for sale on the shop floor and various other duties involved within the bakery
  • (Temporary role over lock down period).

Customer Service Advisor/Hybrid

Boots
10.2020 - 12.2020
  • Work involved picking and packing online orders for customers based in the U.K
  • I also work on the shop floor as a Customer Adviser advising, placing online orders and serving customers
  • This is a temporary contracted post until the 26th December
  • (Temporary role over lock down period).

Sales Assistant

Taste of Scotland
12.2019 - 03.2020
  • Providing attentive and individualised customer service by greeting customers upon entering the shop and remaining pleasant and approachable throughout their shopping experience
  • Entrusted with handling of cash during transactions and cashing up the till at the close of business.

Educational Support Assistant

Bell Baxter High School & Kettle Primary School
09.2017 - 08.2019
  • I supported Mainstream and DAS Unit children and young people with special needs and behavioural issues in an Educational setting in High School
  • I worked at Primary School supporting composite classes Primary 1/2 & 4/5 with Language, Literacy and Numeracy as well as with many other activities.

Art Supplies Specialist

Trinity Art Supplies Store
09.2017 - 06.2018
  • Work was on a temporary contract whilst studying
  • I had previous experience and knowledge of art materials, suppliers and cash handling duties from managing an art shop in Edinburgh.

Visitor Assistant - Gallery & Cinema

Dundee Contemporary Arts
08.2017 - 06.2018
  • I worked in a customer service role as a point of contact for all audiences at D.C.A
  • Demonstrating an understanding of and enthusiasm for the programme combined with excellent customer service and communication skills at all times
  • The ability to have confidence and knowledge when taking groups of visitors round the exhibition space.

Property & Visitor Assistant

The National Trust for Scotland
08.2016 - 03.2017
  • Work was part of the Front of House team providing the highest degree of customer service, playing an instrumental role in ensuring our visitors have a first-class experience
  • I would welcome visitors to the property, processing admissions and retail sales, selling membership packages for the Trust, working as a Tour Guide and being an ambassador for Gladstone’s Land and the National Trust for Scotland.

Supervisor

Two Skies Designs
02.2015 - 08.2016
  • Having been trained and having gained experience of working with precious and semi-precious crystals and stones in Fremantle, Western Australia, I worked in Two Skies on the Royal Mile handling sales, visual merchandising and training up new staff over the busy period.

Volunteer /Teaching Assistant

Artlink
01.2015 - 03.2015
  • I assisted in a sculpture workshop block with young adults with learning disabilities

Manager

Newtown Art Supplies
02.2013 - 12.2013
  • Customer service skills, experience and knowledge of materials/costs, bank duties, merchandising of store and conversing with the warehouse in regards to stock and sales overseas as well as in Australia
  • Responding to public and inquiries in person, over the phone and via email.

Visual Merchandiser-Sales Assistant-Fashion Consultant

John Lewis
11.2011 - 08.2012
  • I worked at John Lewis Department Store initially as a Christmas Temp Sales Assistant in the Jewellery Department
  • I was kept on full time within the department store and worked with in a variety of roles.

Fashion Consultant-Merchandiser

Ojay
03.2010 - 08.2011
  • I worked full time as a Sales Consultant and Visual Merchandiser within five of the main stores within the Sydney area
  • Customer Service skills, the ability to reach sales targets, cash handling, time sheets, banking duties as well as having an eye for detail were some of the requirements within my role.

Manager

Greyfriars Art Shop
08.2006 - 12.2009
  • Dealing with customer orders and re-stocking the shop to ensure everything ran smoothly
  • I employed and trained staff so they had as much knowledge of the art products as possible to help customers with their enquiries.

Gallery Assistant

ScotlandArt.com
12.2005 - 08.2006
  • My role involved working on my own as well as in a team to curate exhibitions, update the website and database, photographing works of art, organising the exhibition openings and general running of high end galleries based in Scotland.

Education

Teaching English As A Foreign Language Qualification -

TEFL
01.2019 - 04.2020

PDA Educational Support Assistance -

Fife College
01.2017 - 04.2018

B.A (Hons) Fine Art 2:1 -

Dundee University - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art And Design
01.1998 - 04.2003

Timeline

Visitor Experience

The National Museum of Scotland
08.2023 - 01.2024

Sales Advisor

The Whisky Shop
09.2022 - 06.2023

Sales Advisor

Kiltane
02.2022 - 06.2022

Customer Service Advisor

Boots
11.2021 - 01.2022

Bakery Assistant/Production

Shortbread House of Edinburgh
09.2021 - 11.2021

Baker /Online Orders

ASDA
01.2021 - 08.2021

Customer Service Advisor/Hybrid

Boots
10.2020 - 12.2020

Sales Assistant

Taste of Scotland
12.2019 - 03.2020

Teaching English As A Foreign Language Qualification -

TEFL
01.2019 - 04.2020

Educational Support Assistant

Bell Baxter High School & Kettle Primary School
09.2017 - 08.2019

Art Supplies Specialist

Trinity Art Supplies Store
09.2017 - 06.2018

Visitor Assistant - Gallery & Cinema

Dundee Contemporary Arts
08.2017 - 06.2018

PDA Educational Support Assistance -

Fife College
01.2017 - 04.2018

Property & Visitor Assistant

The National Trust for Scotland
08.2016 - 03.2017

Supervisor

Two Skies Designs
02.2015 - 08.2016

Volunteer /Teaching Assistant

Artlink
01.2015 - 03.2015

Manager

Newtown Art Supplies
02.2013 - 12.2013

Visual Merchandiser-Sales Assistant-Fashion Consultant

John Lewis
11.2011 - 08.2012

Fashion Consultant-Merchandiser

Ojay
03.2010 - 08.2011

Manager

Greyfriars Art Shop
08.2006 - 12.2009

Gallery Assistant

ScotlandArt.com
12.2005 - 08.2006

Artist

01.2001 - Current

B.A (Hons) Fine Art 2:1 -

Dundee University - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art And Design
01.1998 - 04.2003
Shona Finlay