ORLANDO GILI / PORTRAIT OF BRITAIN

Congratulations to Orlando Gili on his remarkable achievement! His captivating portrait of Zhenya, a Ukrainian refugee, won the prestigious Portrait of Britain competition. This recognition celebrates both his artistic talent and the powerful story captured in his work.

‘This is Ukrainian refugee Zhenya, photographed in the London household where she and her mum have been put up. Zhenya is now flourishing as an art student at the University of Edinburgh, whilst her mum stays London, and her dad remains subscripted to the army in Ukraine. Zhenya is in daily contact with her best friends from home via a WhatsApp group - 3 of the 4 friends have long left for Western Europe. This is just one relatively positive story, from millions of displaced families thanks to the ongoing Ukrainian war. Part of an onging portraits series about Ukrainians who've left their country for a new life in the UK.’ Orlando Gili