A seven-year-old artist from Reading has launched her own business and sold hundreds of paintings in the first 10 days.
Watercolour whizz Amelie Turnbull, from Caversham, is selling prints and cards in five shops around Reading and Berkshire.
She is donating half of the profits to charities which support her brother, George, 14, who was born with a rare brain abnormality.
“It’s absolutely amazing how well she’s doing. She’s such a shy little girl, all she ever does is painting and craft things on the kitchen table, that’s her thing,” said mum-of-three Davina.
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Davina said that Amelie is usually shy, but since launching her brand ‘Little Amelie Art’, she’s been “smiling like a Cheshire cat” and is looking forward to the next show-and-tell at The Heights Primary School.
“I was very proud when she wanted to help raise money for the charities that support George because she’s so young, it’s lovely that she had that in her to think that would be a nice thing to do. It made me more proud than the pictures.”
She explained that George’s genetic condition, lobar holoprosencephaly, means he is developmentally 18 months old.
“He needs a lot of attention and care, which makes it hard for Harry and Amelie, so it’s nice for Amelie to have the spotlight for a moment and to do something good for George’s charities that have helped us. They are immensely treasured by us.”
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Half the profits from Amelie’s eco-friendly art will go to Camp Mohawk, a day centre for children with special needs and their families, and the Music Club which offers music-making to children and young people with disabilities.
“She’s a little superstar in many ways. She has lots to cope with and it’s nice to use her talent in a positive way,” said Davina.
Little Amelie Art products can be found in the following stores:
- Nood Stores, Caversham
- The Corner Shop, Woolhampton
- Home of Twyford, Twyford
- The Marlow Bookshop, Marlow
- FourState in Marlow, Henley and Windsor
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