Edinburgh artist wins an Icon Award

Edinburgh based artist Mark Vice (23) won ‘Cultural Icon of the Year’ at Scotland’s Icon Awards 2016 which were announced last weekend

The award recognises a creative individual who has promoted and supported diversity through the arts. He was the only artist shortlisted alongside the likes of Hollyoaks star Annie Wallace and Scottish crime writer Val McDermid, and told us he was ‘really chuffed’!

The 23-year-old visual artist said: “I am delighted to have won the cultural icon award at this year’s ceremony, for me it’s a very proud moment.”

“A lot of the work I have done over the past year has supported the LGBT+ community and I am always trying to communicate the values of diversity and self expression through my artwork – it’s really important to me that we are all true to ourselves.”

He said, “I don’t think I could do what I’m doing without the help of social media. It helps me connect with such a bigger audience and I can really get my message to the people that it matters to most.” Mark went on to say, “This award is a fantastic way to round off a productive and successful year and I am so excited to see what 2017 will hold!”