A teenage artist at Gordonstoun has been awarded the inaugural Jack Vettriano Award launched to support new talent following in his footsteps.
Ruby Mitcham has quickly established herself as one of the most promising artists of her generation in the UK.
The 18-year-old is in the final year of a two-year senior Art and Music scholarship at Gordonstoun and was studying for her A-level art exam when she was given the good news about receiving the award.
Ruby, who only began oil painting aged 15, has won a host of awards and was one of several emerging artists to recently feature in Sky Arts TV series, Portrait Artist of the Year.
Now, Ruby has become the first ever winner of the Jack Vettriano Award as part of the 200th Anniversary of the Royal Scottish Academy’s (RSA) prestigious Annual Open Exhibition of Art and Architecture.
The Gordonstoun student was one of just 21 entrants to make it on to the shortlist for artists who have not received formal Art School training and whose talent has so far gone unrecognised.
Vettriano, who was self-taught and a former miner, became a household name after two of his works submitted to the RSA in 1988 were sold.
Ruby was awarded the £7,500 prize for her ‘Sun Girl’ painting – inspired by a friend at Gordonstoun which she painted aged just 16 – at a private viewing of the RSA’s Exhibition. Like Vettrianio, her winning painting was later bought before the exhibition opened to the public.
Ruby Mitcham said:
“I am honoured to be the recipient of the first RSA Jack Vettriano Award, which has allowed me to think that a career as a professional artist is feasible.
“I’m so grateful to the judges and to the Estate of Jack Vettriano for seeing something in my work. I often look at my completed paintings with a critical eye, and this has given me a kinder perspective.
“Sun Girl is the fifth painting I’ve exhibited within the RSA. A couple of years ago, this was just the beautiful gallery that I popped into on Princes Street where I could see amazing art. I can’t believe I’m part of this now.
“I wasn’t able to attend the Award ceremony at the Private View event as it was the weekend before my A level art exam, but I’ll be going to see the exhibition when I’m home for half term.
“I can’t believe I’m just a month away from finishing my two-year scholarship at Gordonstoun. The school has been very supportive and given me a wonderful platform to develop my art career.
“The Award makes me feel that anything is possible and I’m excited about what the future holds and having the space and time to work on my own art ideas.
“The award could allow me to exhibit more internationally. For example, last year the same painting was selected for the Florence Biennale, but I wasn’t able to exhibit due to all the associated costs.”
Ruby first came to prominence two years ago when 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.
Sun Girl also formed part of Ruby’s GCSE work and won the Fleming-Wyfold Young People’s Art Competition, as well as being accepted into the Florence Biennale in 2025.
Wendi Van-Hoof, Gordonstoun Head of Art, said:
“The RSA’s annual exhibition arguably represents the most prestigious event in the Scottish art calendar. For someone so young, Ruby has always demonstrated the talent of someone with an older head.
“It’s a measure of how far Ruby has come that she is now exhibiting alongside established artists. Ruby has grown significantly in her final year at Gordonstoun, and winning the inaugural Jack Vettriano Award further confirms her status as a rising star in the art world.”
The new award was funded by the Estate of the late Jack Vettriano, whose spokesperson Carolyn Osborne said:
“We felt Jack would have very much appreciated Ruby’s technical ability. She’s clearly a talented artist and we look forward to seeing how her work develops in the years to come.”
Colin Greenslade, Director of the RSA, added:
“It is wonderful to see the inaugural RSA Jack Vettriano Award go to Ruby for her painting Sun Girl.
“This new award with the Royal Scottish Academy and Jack Vettriano’s Estate aims to encourage an artist who has not received formal Art School training, and whose talent has, so far, gone unrecognised to move forward with their vision and career.”
Ruby has picked up a series of accolades in the past few years. She was also shortlisted for the Scottish Portrait Awards at 16 and nominated for Young Fine Artist. Ruby will leave Gordonstoun in the summer and has plans to work as a professional artist while considering an offer to study Fine Art at the Edinburgh College of Art.
