Amy canvasses for work to pay university fees

PAINTING her way to university... Amy with examples of her work

ART student Amy Brocklehurst has come up with a master stroke to help pay her way through university.

The 19-year-old has set up an on-line portrait service — and has already had around 15 commissions.

Amy, of Grasmere Road, Royton, attended North Chadderton School before doing a foundation art course at Oldham College.

She has also been a volunteer with the young people’s advice service Connexions for five years, and was encouraged by staff to sell her work.

“Recently I have been helping out at events, drawing portraits for the public.

“Doing this has given me the drive and confidence that my work has value,” explained Amy.

“Since then I have done portraits for friends, family and colleagues, and it’s really escalated from there.”

Amy has enjoyed art all her life and her ambition is to paint portraits while travelling the world.

She starts an illustration course at Falmouth University on Monday and her fees for three years, plus one year’s accommodation alone, total around £10,000.

But she hopes that her portraits will help towards the costs and charges £10 to £15 for a pencil drawing and £20 to £30 for a painting.

“Hopefully this will go some way to helping with the financial demands university brings.

“If people want a portrait, I can work from a photograph which they can e-mail to me.”

To contact Amy e-mail amy-pencilfingers@live.co.uk.

Examples of her work are on her blog www.amy-pencilfingers.blogspot.com