HKAS Master Talk Series #4 In Conversation with Scottish Portrait Artist Jennifer McRae

Hong Kong Art School continues the Master Talks Series to offer professional art education for industry professionals and enthusiasts in 2026. The series covers diverse topics, featuring a stellar line-up of instructors, including internationally renowned artists, local Hong Kong artists, and Hong Kong Art School lecturers, blending global trends with local insights.

Co-organised by Hong Kong Art School and Chao Lee Art Foundation Ltd, the fourth talk, “In Conversation with Scottish Portrait Artist Jennifer McRae”, will be led by Scottish portrait artist Jennifer McRae and will take place on 27 January 2026. The talk will also feature curator and advisor Monica Chung as the guest moderator.

McRae is a prominent portrait artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her signature works encompass portraits and tableaux scenes that are visually-captivating in vivid colour and fine detail.

The artist is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes in the UK; her paintings are widely collected across public institutions and private collections. She has been commissioned by renowned museums, the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Notably, her portrait commissions include iconic public figures, Dame Judi Dench, Playwright and Novelist, Michael Frayn, Actor, Brian Cox and Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy.

Find out what inspires the artist, and hear about her artistic journey to becoming one of the most respected portrait painters in the UK. Discover how the creative process of drawing remains of equal importance to her as painting, and how she works within a sphere of studio models, personal sitters and subjects to explore universal themes that pertain to the human experience.

Date: January 27, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: 10/F, Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai

Jennifer McRae studied painting at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen (1987-1992), followed by Prince’s Drawing School, London.

Over the years, McRae has received awards and prizes including the BP Travel Award, the Hunting Art Prizes, the Singer Friedlander and Kaupthing Watercolour Prizes, the Morrison Scottish Portrait Award and the Worshipful Society of Painter Stainers. Best known for her distinctive portraits, her work has been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, London and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. McRae is also an enthusiastic printmaker.

McRae has exhibited at Barber Institute Birmingham, Worshipful Society of Painter stainers, Painters’ Hall London Royal Society of portrait painters, Mall Galleries, Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, National Portrait Gallery, London, Jerwood Space, London and Browse & Darby, London.Her work has been placed in major public collections including National Portrait Gallery, London, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, Royal Society, London and the Royal Collection, Windsor, Reading Museum and Lord’s MCC Museum, London. The artist lives and works in Edinburgh.

Monica Chung is an acknowledged independent art consultant based in London with over twenty years experience in the art industry.

She began her career as a curator and director of commercial art galleries, and since 2010, has created a bespoke art service tailored to non-profit organisations, foundations and international private clients in the UK, Europe, USA and South-East Asia.

The consultancy focuses on art acquisitions, nurturing private collections and implementing curatorial and programming strategies in both commercial and non-profit sectors. Monica’s specialist knowledge, experience and access can counsel and shape both private collections and organisations.

Monica graduated from Byam Shaw School of Art and University of Northumbria. She holds a BA Hons in Fine Art.

Organiser: Chao Lee Art Foundation www.claf.hk
In Association with: Hong Kong Art School