This week in The Herald we are re-investigating the devastating fires at Glasgow School of Art's world-renowned 'Mack' building.

10 years on from the first blaze, what is happening to the now ruined Charles Rennie Mackintosh building?

While my writer colleagues have been interviewing people about the whole situation, I wanted to illustrate the investigation with some of my photographs.

I've been very fortunate, as over the years I’ve been working for The Herald I've taken photographs of (and in) the 'Mack' many times on various assignments. 

READ MORE: 'Cursed building' to 'colossal loss': The global reaction to both Art School fires

I thought a thread on X, formerly known as Twitter, would be a good way to help show the recent history of the Mackintosh building before and after the fires.

My thread prompted a huge response. 

Some people thanked me (including Travis lead singer and Glasgow School of Art alumni Fran Healy), a few said they had a tear in their eye when they saw the photographs of how the Mack used to be, many said they were heartbroken and how much they miss the building.

I had been documenting the construction of the Glasgow School of Art’s new Reid building from January 2010 when architect Steven Holl presented his design to the Glasgow School of Art board right up to its opening in April 2014.

On May 22, 2014, not long after the building was officially opened by the late actor Robbie Coltrane, I popped onto the top floor of the Glasgow School of Art’s Bourdon building so I could get a photograph of the Reid and the Mack, it’s older, iconic and world famous neighbour opposite. I took that photograph at 12.46pm.

Almost exactly 24 hours later at around 12.30pm on the May 23, 2014, a fire would start in the Mackintosh building. Very sadly, little did I know on that Thursday afternoon, it was to be the last time I photographed Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece as a fully intact and functioning art school.