Congratulations to former student, Mia Takemoto, who has been longlisted for the Scottish Portrait Award!

Mia left Carmel in 2107 after completing the Art Foundation course. She is about to start her fourth year of the MA Fine Art at the University of Edinburgh which is a 5-year integrated Scottish Masters, combining Fine Art and Art History.

Mia commented: “I have really enjoyed university so far, it’s an incredible course. Last year I got the chance to spend a semester studying abroad at the University of Columbia in Canada!

“The Scottish Portrait Award is a yearly competition showcasing portraiture by artists working or living in Scotland. I entered my painting ‘Chess Match’ which I produced during lockdown. It is an egg tempera painting on wood, featuring my brother playing chess. Being longlisted means my painting will be featured in their online exhibition between 23rd Dec 2020 and 6th Jan 2021.

“The Art Foundation at Carmel was invaluable; I would not be where I am now without it. It shaped my art practise and my art historical interests. (I seem to have specialised in Chinese Art History and I think that stems from an Ai Weiwei DVD that Liz introduced me to that year)!”

We’d like to wish Mia the best of luck with the competition and for the future.

Click to find out more about the Scottish Portrait Awards