Artist uses a mirror to make new start, refining profile (12)

I believe the answer is:

selfportrait

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a mirror to make new start refining profile' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether this works.

'artist' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'artist' could be 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts) and 'ra' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'uses' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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