Firstly, I want to express my gratitude and amazement for winning this award. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard. I had no idea that I would have won anything and to win first place is the highest honour. This painting was for my Advanced Higher folio; the theme was Buddhism. Growing up in Mongolia the red robes of the monks are the first image that comes to mind when I think of Buddhism. I loved that for the whole painting I worked from one shade of red, the colour that in my mind represents Buddhism to me.