Ulster artist holding lead is just bliss (7)
I believe the answer is:
nirvana
'just bliss' is the definition.
'nirvana' can be an answer for 'bliss' (blissful state in Buddhism). I'm unsure of the 'just' bit.
'ulster artist holding lead' is the wordplay.
'ulster' becomes 'NI' (Northern Ireland).
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'holding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'lead' becomes 'van' (van is the leading part of a movement or group).
'ra' placed around 'van' is 'rvana'.
'ni'+'rvana'='NIRVANA'
'is' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nirvana that I've seen before include "Buddhist state of bliss; enlightenment" , "Transcendent state of Buddhists" , "In Buddhist teaching, the place of perfect bliss" , "Buddhist version of Paradise" , "State of total happiness" .)