Gifted 12-year-old Leeds girl goes viral with her stunning art

Evie Hodgson painted this amazing picture of Venice and when her mum Louise posted it into a Facebook group, it was met with an overwhelming response, clocking up over 10,000 likes and more than 1,500 comments.

Ms Hodgson had posted asking how best to encourage her daughter with her art, asking: “I want to shout about her talent, and help her find a mentor or art club/school that will steer her in the right direction.

“Or do I leave well alone? What do folks think? We’re in Leeds, UK.”

-> Every child in this Leeds estate will get a free Easter egg this SundayReflecting on the whirlwind response after her post, the proud Guiseley mum said: “I just thought well, we don’t want to push. We want her to keep her feet on the ground.

“But we wanted advice on how to encourage her in the best way really. And that's why I posted it on the group and then it went mad.”

“I have shown her some of the comments, and she’s kind of realising really quite how good she is but she’s never one to shout about it. She doesn’t hide it but she doesn’t show off.

“I think now she’s actually realising she really does have a talent and it is quite a rare thing.”

Reflecting on the role art has played throughout Evie’s life, her mum said: “We can see it but we’re biased because we’re the parents. But you don’t need to be an artist to see how talented she is.

“In the last year, particularly during lockdowns she has really gone for it. It’s been her thing that has kept her going.

“She has come on leaps and bounds in the last year but she has always had a talent for it. She would always sit and doodle for hours. Rather than sit and play with toys she would sit and do her art.

“Her grandma was saying this morning, even before she was three she could draw a cat properly, with all the features.

“She started having extra art classes from when she was about seven. And its kind of developed from there.

“I don't want to push it and I just want her to do what she wants. And take it the way she wants to take it.”

-> The best fish and chip shops in Leeds as chosen by youThe full post Ms Hodgson had posted on the ‘Family Lockdown Tips and Ideas’ Facebook group read: “Advice please? This is a piece of my daughter’s artwork, she’s 12. I’m her mum, so obviously, I think she’s incredible.

“She’s also brilliant at portraiture. I find it very hard not to push her to enter competitions, apply for courses etc. I want to shout about her talent, and help her find a mentor or art club/school that will steer her in the right direction.

“Or do I leave well alone? What do folks think? We’re in Leeds, UK.”

Comments flooded in with people in awe of Evie’s talent, calling her “an artist of the future” and saying she has “big things ahead of her”.

Many commenters said they would pay for Evie’s art to have in their homes.

Other comments included:

“I would buy it today to give to my Italian mum! Tell her to keep going, she will go far!”

“She is incredibly talented, and at such a young age. Would definitely be interested in buying a piece of her work as I love to support other artists.”

“That’s awesome, tell her she’s got a huge future In art if she carries on. I think she’s brilliant.”