Lily’s winning portrait of an ‘amazing’ man

Young artist Lily Fitzgerald is thrilled to have been chosen as the winner of the city-wide Nelson Mandela 90th birthday painting competition.

Lily, 13, of Marchmont Road, will have her portrait hung in the Nelson Mandela Room in the City Chambers.

Despite being a keen artist for several years, the S2 student at James Gillespie’s High School did not expect to win for her portrait of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African.

“It feels amazing to win because I didn’t think I would,” Lily said.

“I had a canvas at home with some acrylic paints, so I thought I might as well enter.”

On the subject of her portrait, Lily said: “Nelson Mandela is a good man, he never gave up and what he has done is amazing.”