Speyside Distillery student graduates from PSTA

The first Chinese national has graduated from the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, having been supported in his studies by Scotch whisky brand Spey from the Speyside Distillery.

Princes School of Traditional Arts’ first Chinese national graduate Yunfeng Cong, with President Xi, Peng Liyuan and The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

26-year-old Yunfeng Cong completed his Bachelor’s degree in mural painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. After working on a mural painting progject in the city, he gained a PSTA scholarship and moved to the UK to study.

He will now create more pieces in advance of his first solo exhibition.

Cong was supported in his studies through a partnership between PSTA and the Speyside Distillery. The brand has a strong presence in Asia, including Greater China, and its through its PSTA partnership is seeking to promote a wider appreciation of traditional arts.

“I appreciate what Spey has done for me, and I hope more students can be sponsored by Spey to study at PSTA,” said Cong.

“Artists need to look at the world in a new perspective and have different experiences, and the sponsorship from Spey provides artists with these opportunities.

“I learned a lot during my time at PSTA, both practical and theoretical. But the most important part of my study at PSTA is that it gives me an opportunity to understand different cultural traditions, which helps me to understand the universal principle of all the traditional arts.

“I always want to find a timeless and universal practical language to make art works, and my experience at PSTA has brought me much closer to this goal.”

John Harvey McDonough, CEO of Speyside Distillery, added: “Yunfeng is an accomplished painter and has produced work of excellent quality while at the school and we are extremely proud of his achievements.

“We look forward to celebrating the graduation of PSTA’s first mainland China exchange student and to being able to toast Yunfeng’s achievements with a fine dram of SPEY single malt whisky.”

The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts specialises in the arts and crafts of the world’s great traditions. Its postgraduate programme combines the teaching of the practical skills of the traditional arts and crafts with an understanding of the philosophies within them.