Teen Artist To Exhibit At Royal Academy Of Arts

A teenager who took up painting during lockdown is to display her work at a prestigious art gallery in London.

When schools closed in March 2020, Makenzy Beard, 14, from Swansea started painting on canvasses in her garden shed.

A portrait of her neighbour, Gower farmer, John Tucker, will go on display at the young artists’ summer show during July and August at the royal academy of arts.

Makenzy, a pupil at Bishopston comprehensive school, said: “I had some free time on my hands and my mum used to love to paint so we had paints and canvasses and brushes. I thought ‘why not give it a try’ and it escalated from there.

“I’ve always loved creative things but up until that point that was my first time painting portraits.”

Using photographs of people to help her create the portraits, it can take many hours for Makenzy to complete one.

Makenzy estimates it took about 20 hours to complete the portrait of john during a three-week period.