CBC today revealed the ten elite artists from Canada and abroad, who will compete in the upcoming second season of BEST IN MINIATURE (8×60), premiering Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. (7:30 NT) on CBC TV and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
This season, the miniaturists will go to epic lengths to create their ultimate tiny home, one pocket-sized room at a time. The competition will push them to create detailed masterpieces under a ticking clock. While the goal is to make it mini, the competition is huge, as these highly skilled artists fight for prizes and advantages in every episode. Each week one miniaturist will be sent home, while the others continue to compete for the $15,000 grand prize.
Actress and stand-up comedian Aba Amuquandoh returns as host, alongside judges, UK miniature expert Emma Waddell, and esteemed Canadian interior designer and entrepreneur Michael Lambie.
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Meet the Season 2 competitors vying to be crowned Best in Miniature:
Alberto Gozzi from Brampton, Ontario is a well-respected miniaturist. After building full-size furniture alongside his father in Italy, Alberto became enamoured with the world of miniatures, and now builds custom dollhouses for The Little Doll House Company.
Briar Nielsen is a miniaturist from Uxbridge, Ontario, who freelances as a stylist. She depicts her style as modern, clean and precise but she recently shared her “alter-ego” on TikTok, where she makes grungy and dark designs too. Her work has been featured in Narcity and Chatelaine and she sells her creation on her online shop, Revive Minis.
Debra Kirby is an artist and a miniaturist from Norfolk, England. Her passion for creating miniatures was born from sorrow, as she learned to cope with the grief of losing her sister. Debra is also a professional wood carver who makes and sells individual pieces of hand carvings at fairs in London and York, with customers in America and Britain.
Gabbi Whiteley is an artist, craftsperson and mom from Vancouver, British Columbia who crafted cardboard boxes into dollhouses as a child. In 2018, she renovated a dollhouse for her son and daughter, where she chose to make most of the pieces. Since then, she has created miniature room boxes and started her own business, Minterior Designs, specializing in dollhouse furniture and decor.
Hannah Lemon grew up in Japan but currently lives in London, England. She recently reunited with her childhood love for miniatures and is widely recognized for her beautiful clay houseplants. Her art often reflects her real-life dream home; beautiful vintage furniture, houseplants, and a mix of Japanese and Western contemporary styles.
Michele Barrow-Belisle is a professional artist and USA Today best-selling author, from London, Ontario. Her love for miniatures began when her husband bought her an old dollhouse from an antique store 25 years ago. Michele currently sells her DIY miniature designs, kits and pieces via an online shop, Bella Bewitched Miniatures.
Micheline Wedderburn is a multidisciplinary artist born in Kingston, Jamaica who now lives in Toronto, Ontario. Although she always wanted to be an art teacher, she discovered indoor cycling in 2002 and opened Toronto’s first spin studio, Quad. Forced to close in the pandemic, Micheline created a diorama of the incredible home she resides in which kickstarted her passion for miniatures.
Nigel (Nick) Humes from Kingston, Jamaica. At only 19 years old, he is following his lifelong passion of making a living as a miniaturist with his small business Nick’s Minis and Toys. Nick prides himself on showcasing his Caribbean culture in each of his pieces and aims to inspire younger generations to involve themselves in the arts and never give up on their dreams.
Preston Poling is a former corrections officer and a business owner from Louisville, Kentucky. He started his miniature journey by recreating the entire set from his favourite tv show which became internationally known as The Frasier Project. His award-winning work has been featured in magazines and newspapers and can be found on display at miniature shows across the United States.
Tracy Ealdama from Vancouver, British Columbia is a homeschool teacher for her two children and a toymaker. Her work has been featured on Breakfast Television, CBC, BlogTO, with collaborations from major toy brands including Moose Toys, Nickelodeon, Spin Master and Mattel.
Season 1 winner Susete Saraiva from Toronto took home the title of Best in Miniature and the $15,000 grand prize last year after competing against semi-finalists Philip Nuveen and Stephen Eddleston. Miniature enthusiasts can catch up on Season 1 on CBC Gem leading up to the Season 2 premiere.
BEST IN MINIATURE is produced by marblemedia in association with CBC. For marblemedia, Matt Hornburg, Mark Bishop and Diane Rankin are executive producers; Donna Luke and Carly Spencer are co-executive producers, and Erica Lenczner is series producer and showrunner; and the series is created by development producer Kelsey Espensen. For CBC, Sally Catto is General Manager, Entertainment, Factual and Sports; Jennifer Dettman is Executive Director, Unscripted Content; Alexandra Lane is Senior Director of Production; and Ann-Marie Redmond is Executive in Charge of Production. Matt Reid is Executive Producer for discovery+ UK. Distribution360 (D360) holds worldwide rights to the format and finished program.
