Talented teenage artist Ruby Mitcham, a student at Gordonstoun, was chosen to appear on the new TV series of Portrait Artist of the Year.
The 18-year-old has quickly established herself as one of the most promising UK artists of her generation. In 2024, she became the youngest ever artist to feature at the Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition in Edinburgh, which has previously featured work by Raeburn, Picasso and Munch.
Ruby, who only began oil painting when she was aged 15, is now among several emerging artists to feature in the prestigious Sky Arts programme, hosted by actor and comedian Stephen Mangan.
TV cook Dame Mary Berry was among a series of several well-known faces to sit as a subject for the 12th series of Portrait Artist of the Year. Succession actor Brian Cox, Bridgeton actress Adjoa Andoh, former Boyzone star Shane Lynch and astronaut Tim Peake were also captured on canvas.
Ruby was invited to apply for the show when she was on a school exchange in Canada. The producers were so impressed by her entry, that she was invited to be one of a select number of artists on the programme. She then painted her sitter live at Battersea Arts Centre in front of a studio full of cameras.
Ruby, in her final year of a two-year senior Art and Music scholarship at Gordonstoun, said: “The first look at the set was incredible. It looks the same as it does on TV but with lots of cameras and people. Everyone was really nice, and it was bizarre seeing the judges for the first time, who were all very kind and friendly.
“It was exciting to meet the other eight artists in my heat and although it was a competition, it didn’t feel like that in the slightest. I really enjoyed painting the sitter and was pleased with the challenge of a short time for a painting.
The audience was really supportive, and the day was one I’ll never forget.” Ruby has picked up a series of accolades in the past year. She was also shortlisted for the Scottish Portrait Awards at 16 and nominated for Young Fine Artist. She has already had her paintings hung twice in the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA).
Wendi Van-Hoof, Gordonstoun’s Head of Art, said: “Ruby’s appearance on such a prestigious TV show is a worthy recognition of her burgeoning talent. She is a joy to teach and the sky’s the limit for Ruby. Her grasp of portraiture is akin to someone much older and I’m looking forward to seeing how she develops not only her technical skills but her creative insight in her final year at Gordonstoun.”
Ruby is also an accomplished musician, playing the violin and singing soprano. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Season 12 was on Freeview Channel 36 and on all Sky platforms. Ruby painted in episode 5.