Your FAQs

ZDF People Awards, Munich 2011 - will Kieron go?

Kieron was so pleased to have beeen invited, but to be honest, 2011 has been so busy, with 2 sell-out exhibitions, moving house and changing schools, we are just looking forward to finding a Christmas tree and roasting chestnuts on the woodburner. It would be lovely to go abroad, but we would prefer to have family holidays rather than the media being in our pockets, or in control of our schedule. Kieron is in his comfort zone at home, in his studio, or on location, a tv studio is a different kettle of fish, sorry!! Kieron has the rest of his life to travel and achieve these things.

Will Kieron paint on a larger scale?

Kieron's biggest canvas to date is 30x40 inches. To achieve this, he needs to stand on a stool and he does all the priming himself. It is very labour intensive. I wouldn't recommend that Kieron works on anything larger than that at this moment in time. When he's happier to leave a piece and re-visit it later, then thats different, he can have a break, but Kieron loves to finish a canvas in one sitting!!!

How can Kieron keep up with all these demands, is it ever too much for him?

'We only ever exhibit work if we have the stock at the time of agreeing the event. This way, Kieron is never under any pressure to 'paint to order' likewise with private sales, they are only ever released after Kieron has replaced other work, we don't sell all his work either. There is significant demand, and we don't always get it right, people on the waiting list are annoyed by us holding exhibitions because it lets people walk in and buy paintings, who haven't been waiting, likewise, followers of Kierons work criticise us because they don't get to see the work that Kieron produces and sells privately. I do apologise for not getting it right all the time. Kieron cannot meet the demands, he has school, family life and boyhood antics to maintain before his painting, he doesn't have the luxury of painting and sailing all day yet!! As for media projects, we will see a reduction in the time that we offer to film crews, we usually have to offer 2 days worth of filming, which gets edited down to 5-15 minute features. Its not always a great time for Kieron to paint or answer questions, although he does understand that while he still chooses to sell his work the questions people have need answering. Keith and I buffer the pressure as much as we can, to make sure that the impact on both the children is minimal, however the stress is then in our laps and we do worry, a lot. We moved house to try to manage the situation, to find out what stress was internal and what stress was external, but its unlikely we'll ever get our anonymity and sense of normality  back. The important thing is that Kieron loves what he does, and knows what he wants, and that as parents, we are trying our best. We still receive an overwhelming number of emails of praise and thanks from people who can clearly see the progress in Kieron's work, this keeps us going. Living with such a gift, it is hard to keep a lid on it. But when we ask Kieron if he's ready to give it up, he declines, so what do you do? MW

Where can I find the Guardian article and video piece on Kieron?

'I've added the links to both the Guardian video and Patrick Barkham's article of December 2009 in Kieron's scrapbook, thanks for asking'MW

Does Kieron still have lessons?

'Kieron had a total of 9 adult watercolour classes at age 6, 3 oil lessons, age 6. Kieron has had approximately a dozen pastel classes. Kieron works at a different pace to other members of the group and often finishes his pictures before everyone else, he is also very choosy over what he takes from the class. So it isn't something we have encouraged recently, nor has Kieron asked for further tuition. He's quite happy learning in his own way' MW

Will Kieron go to Hong Kong this Winter to exhibit?

'Sadly we work in advance with dates and commitments, so we didn't have time, or the stock to take over to Hong Kong this winter. It is a shame, but people need to book us up in advance. Kieron is still only 9, and although he wants to travel and paint other countries, the expectations of such events are tiring, and too much for a little lad of 9, so there is plenty of time, although we appreciate very much, the invitations to visit and exhibit from the US, Hong Kong, Germany, Australia etc' MW

Is Kieron still enjoying painting live for film crews?

'Kieron is always asked how he feels about each project, he's quite capable of saying no or that he's not sure, and we respect his decision when he says no. A recent event led Kieron to insist on painting a street scene that he was more comfortable doing, and this was against the wishes of the producer!! So he's always in the driving seat, and not afraid of steering us all in his chosen direction. Other artists will confirm how daunting it is to paint in front of people, let alone paint their chosen subject rather than your own, so when Kieron painted Mount Fuji for the very first time live, for a film crew, we were amazed to see the outcome and to see Kieron take it in his stride and enjoy the moment, and of course the result. Fearless, quietly confident, but ultimately, in the driving seat, how proud we are of him' MW

Will Kieron be at the November exhibition?

'We will try to be there at weekends, but with school, homework and media commitments, we're not sure of the exact dates. We are so pleased with the excitement and enthusiasm already shown by people about another exhibition. So we hope to see you all there!! MW

The portraits are fantastic, do you do commissions?

 'We were amazed when Kieron declared that he was going to do a portrait of his sister in oils, we were even more amazed with the result, then shortly followed by a beautiful self portrait..Sadly Kieron doesn't do commissions at this stage, the requests are too overwhelming to keep up with' MW

What is Kieron painting these days, we'd love to know?

'Kieron is loving the Broads, and the countryside. Juggling homework, school, football and home life, there's not always as many hours in the day as we'd like. See Kieron's 'My Work' section for updates on 'Sketches' 'Portraits' and a few additions to 'Pet Portraits' MW

Wow, to be compared to Harry Potter by the Japanese, what was that like?

'It was a bit bizarre really, we all love Harry Potter, and the finale is big news in Japan, so for a Japanese newspaper to visit us in the holidays, and describe Kieron as a real life magician, with a paint brush as a wand, and creating paintings that are magic, was quite an honour. The reporter described some of Kieron's work as having zen like properties, which is a very big compliment' MW

When will we hear about the November exhibition?

'We are still choosing paintings at present, and Kieron is still thinking about what he would like to include. To make sure you get all the information on November and beyond, please sign up here for Kieron's newsletter' MW

What is the finished painting like?

'We, like lots of others, assumed that the oil paint on glass wouldn't dry, certainly not close to the glass, even if the top layer were to dry. In fact, it has dried, really quickly, and is very powdery and is easy to flake off the glass. So the problem in storing the painting is not due to it never drying out, but its fragility. We had hoped to keep it in Kieron's house, and we've decided to get it framed up and hang it above Kieron's painting space to be used as a memo/mood board' MW

Painting on glass, was that hard? Who's idea was it?

'We were approached by a filming company, Submarine, from Holland who wanted to film Kieron painting a landscape on glass out on location. They wanted to see a landscape appear and to see Kieron becoming absorbed into that landscape. We have seen examples of Jeroen's work, the producer, and loved the way he could make ordinary life events appear significant and magical, so we really hope that with the same camera work and sensitivity, that Jeroen will make Kieron's short film into something equally beautiful. Kieron tried painting on a smaller sheet of glass at home beforehand, so that he could assess the differences and challenges, they didn't put him off, neither did the apprehension and skepticism of several people. Like me, Kieron wanted his painting and interview to be portrayed in a sensitive and artistic way, quite different from the normal interviewing techniques we are used to. Kieron loves painting on location, so the fact that he got to do this, plus keep the easels and painting at the end was great!! More news to follow when we receive news of the finished film' MW

Where are you exhibiting at the moment?

'We have just finished a month-long exhibition at Delamore Arts in Devon. Achieving a 4th Sell-Out exhibition. We are currently focusing on moving house after completing some private sales. For information on sales, please email us direct. We also have a November exhibition in the pipeline' MW

What's next for you all?

'We have interviews planned with France, Germany, UK, a filming project with a crew from Holland pending completion, and hopefully a trip to Cornwall this year as we are getting home-sick!!! We are always busy, but trying to move house, which is taking time' MW

How do you cope with people judging you as parents?

'We cope, but badly I suppose, and we judge ourselves daily anyway, if we paid attention to other people's opinions, we would go mad. We've been described by a neighbour as 'sitting there like a couple of vultures' whilst we were simply assisting with stock-taking, so it illustrates people's misguided assumptions even on a local level. Thankfully the people close to us, keep us in check and offer their support when things like that arise. A lot of people also think that money is the motivating factor, they are surprised when we explain the global opportunities that we have turned down, the fact that Kieron has painted in excess of 1000 paintings and that we have only sold just over 100. People see what they want to see, irrespective of whether it is accurate or not. Opinions are free and our culture today allows complete freedom of speech irrespective of the consequences. We are motivated to continue firstly by Kieron himself, but also by the vast number of emails that thank us for sharing Kieron's work. We also have collectors of Kieron's work that stay in touch frequently and offer their unconditional support and praise. We listen to our conscience and expect other's to listen to theirs' MW

How do Kieron and Billie Jo feel about all the media exposure?

'Kieron is always made aware of the media and interview requests that come in and is asked each time if he wishes to participate. A lot of the time we decline the invitations, but when Kieron feels up to it, we agree. Billie Jo is always given the option of joining in or not, and she does what she wants to do at the time. Keith and I feel awkward on camera and I think this comes across!!! The global interest in Kieron's work is as strong today as it was back in August 2009, with several child and educational publications wishing to publish Kieron's story as well as news channels across the world. We hoped that moving house would help us find anonymity again, but that didn't work out. While Kieron chooses to sell his work, we accept that the media attention will be there' MW

To receive a personal letter of thanks or autograph from Kieron, please email us direct!

A lot of buyers contact us directly to find out more about the particular painting that they have bought. We love to hear from buyers as well as admirers, its lovely to know where Kieron's paintings are hanging and appreciated and we remain in touch with several of Kieron's collectors'MW

A November 2011 exhibition is penciled in the diary, in Holt, Norfolk!!

Watch this space and sign up here for all the latest news on November and anything inbetween!!

Please sign up to Kieron's newsletter for sales information - another sell-out for Kieron!!.

'The 6 paintings that appeared initially on the Delamore Arts Festival website have all sold. The additional 6 paintings reserved for festival attendees to purchase have also SOLD!! A % of the sales will go to St Lukes Hospice, in Plymouth. Well done Kieron on another successful charity event!!

Please sign up to Kieron's newsletter here to receive further news on available work, and a possible November exhibition' MW.

Yes, we are exhibiting in 2011!!

'The increasing number of enquiries we've received from supporters, collector's and journalists around the world etc remains overwhelming. Despite trying to have a quiet year and prioritising moving house, we couldn't turn down an invitation to exhibit in Devon, this May, and raise money for charity at the same time. Goto www.delamore.com for more details. We are so excited to be showing some of Kieron's favourite paintings of the South West' MW

Charitable Donations, can we have a painting?

'We receive a vast number of requests for Original Kieron Williamson paintings from Charities all over the world, and we feel deeply for each and every cause, every individual and every effort that is made to help others in need. Due to Kieron Williamson currently being a 'minor', Kieron is not seen in the eyes of the law as being in a position to agree to giving away such contributions, therefore the Company works within a tight legal framework that enables Kieron and the Williamson family to do their best in terms of offering charitable donations, but to also take into account the vulnerability of Kieron Williamson as a minor and the avoidance of exploitation and improper Company handling of Kieron’s artwork. A team of Solicitors specialising in Trust legislation therefore oversees the Company and it is agreed that a donation of X% of  ‘selected sales’ can be given to charity. The Company retains the right to choose the Charity on an annual basis. We invite charities to contact us and we will happily add their details to our list' MW

Does Kieron draw? does he draw people and animals?

'Kieron spends more time drawing now than painting, we have a few pencil sketches on both paper and canvases that are 'unfinished' (and no we don't sell these, and yes we have been asked)!! Kieron was told by members of the Wapping Group that 'anyone can paint but not everyone can draw' and Kieron has taken this advice on board. His buildings, perspective and composition is breath taking. Kieron has also painted a watercolour portrait of his cousin Keeley, Kieron has also drawn some simple portrait sketches of each of us. Kieron has recently attempted a horse study, but as always the subject had to be set within a scene, a landscape, so instead of seeing tiny cow-like gestures on the horizon, we now see cattle in the mid ground of his work and now a pair of ponies in the snow, in the foreground. Kieron will spend time getting to know the various subjects he paints before they appear in his work as a main feature' MW.

Does Kieron paint what is in his head or does he use photo's?

'Kieron paints on location a lot of the time when it is warm enough, he's been frustrated this winter because its been too cold to go out much to paint. We take photo's wherever we go for Kieron to use. It is important for Kieron to paint what he sees, whether he 'Kieronises' it by adding to the image or taking something away is his choice at the time. He has created paintings from scratch, either inspired by a landscape or snow scene and he's been unable to find a suitable photo. We do encourage him to use his own material though' MW 

Thank you...

...for not being big headed and thinking that you have made it. So many talented kids are so up themselves and can't see the wood for the trees. You look like you are enjoying it, so go for it. And yes, you are all grounded, especially your little sister!

How do you compare Kieron's work to other child prodigies?

'We don't compare Kieron's work with other child art prodigies, thats up to others. Kieron does what he does, he enjoys it, others love to share it at affordable prices and to participate in this chapter of Kieron's journey. Each and every artist, young or old, master or amateur, all have their own journeys and stories to tell. Its not up to us to compare or critique, just to celebrate with those also wanting to celebrate. Regarding technical ability, Kieron chooses fine art and drawing as opposed to abstract art. This leads to his paintings becoming closely scrutinised by others because it can be measured against clearly set criterion. Abstract art is much harder to critique. We are proud of his efforts and we can clearly see the progress that he is making. You will notice that we are particularly grounded as parents, we are still overwhelmed by the interest in Kieron's work, this website does not claim that Kieron has 'already made it to the top', he is at the very infancy of his artwork and the progress he's made over the last 2.5 years makes us very excited about the next 2.5 years. We don't take anything for granted, especially not Kieron's future in art. What you see in this website is simply a running record of his achievements and progress, completely appreciating that he has so much more to achieve. What keeps us going is the appreciation of people from around the globe, and the praise and support from artists that work alongside Kieron.' MW

Why don't you use an agent to promote Kieron's work?

'We struggle to keep up with the demand for Kieron's work as it is. We are also very conscious not to take Kieron down a pathway that he doesn't like later on. The most important thing to us at this moment in time is that Kieron's identity and brand is kept pure and not violated or warped by other external influences. So far we haven't found a system that suits us, so we will continue to support Kieron as a self-representing artist until he is old enough to take over. All decisions are made with Kieron and we discuss all possibilities' MW

Arrived safely in Canada.

Thank you so much for the safe delivery of three beautiful paintings. Well done, keep us posted on your movements, we would love to visit your next exhibition. Hope the house move goes well for you all this year!!

We loved the painting we purchased, let us know if you have any more available!

Thank you all so much for the painting. It was better than we ever thought it was going to be, like Christmas!. The shipping communication and packaging was brilliant. Top class service. Thank you again!!

Way to go Kieron!!

We watched you on Day Break and thought you pulled off another fantastic original!! Well done you, and its a pleasure to see a young lad enjoying the lime light-you deserve it!!!SF 

In your scrapbook page, you say that you are now staying in Norfolk...what happened to Cornwall?

'haha, yes, hopefully the purchase of a Norfolk property will go through at the beginning of March, we will keep you all posted. It will mean a change of schools, so we want to minimize our stress levels and really support the children to settle in. The house needs quite a lot of work done on it too, so we will be quite busy. We were very close to purchasing a house in Cornwall and will still consider moving down there in the future, this house offers us more space and a Norfolk base for now' MW

Are you exhibiting this year, 2011? where can we see your work?

'We no longer have plans for a 2011 exhibition, as previously stated. We need to prioritize a house move, and really want to concentrate on settling the children  into a new school and location. We are selling a small number of paintings privately, so you can email us for details, enquiries@kieronwilliamson.com' MW 

Are you choosing Cornwall for the art scene in St Ives to take Kieron's art work to another level?

'To be honest, we visit Cornwall and plan to move there purely for selfish, family reasons. To re-gain our happy household and our positive energy. The thought at this moment in time is not about promoting Kieron's artwork. We refuse to put 'all our eggs into his basket' and will never make life event decisions on the basis of Kieron's art work. Primarily we need to meet our environmental and emotional needs, everything else will take care of itself afterwards. The fact that Cornwall has its own art movement is understandable, the impact that has on Kieron's work, if any, remains to be seen!!!' MW

Why are you moving away from Norfolk?

'We need to move house because the children share a bedroom and we have no garden. To get the children out for air and exercise is a full time job because they need taking. Kieron and Billie Jo are a couple of real beach-bums and if you ask them where their favourite places are, they will say Holkham beach and Cornwall! Keith and I are different people when we are surrounded by the fishing villages, ports and scenery in Cornwall. The only thing keeping us in Holt is the Primary School, it is a fantastic school, but our time there will come to an end. We can't afford to buy a house in Holt, surrounding towns and villages are nice, but compared with Cornwall... Kieron's art scene experience has shown us how important it is to enjoy the time we have, not to merely exist. Friends and family are here in Norfolk and it will be easy for us to visit and stay with relatives' MW

How do you feel when people compare you to Picasso and Monet?

'Sigh, we hope people realise that it is not us as parents that made those claims, but the media. It is a huge ticket to place on anybody's shoulders, and alot to live up to. But it is also a massive assumption that Kieron will continue to paint in the future!! We love Kieron's art, and we celebrate it, appreciating that he is only at the very beginning, we don't claim that he is a master already. Kieron will want so much more out of life, including a childhood, so people may have to wait a while before an update on Kieron's work. If he continues to paint, and he is completely in the driving seat, he may well surprise us all. Every few months we see a change in his work, where does it come from? if this is what he is painting now...what will he be painting in another 3 months time?' MW

Why don't you have a catalogue of your work?

'Paintings are usually being sold all the time via Kieron's mailing list with the gallery, with so many people on the list, there is never an opportunity to do a catalogue as such, images are sent out according to the waiting list, we are doing our best to keep up with demand, but Kieron is also working towards another exhibition also. The best way to keep up to date with news is to join the mailing list at picturecraft. We review things as often as we can and we want to make sure that interested purchasers know what is happening, so we do need another meeting really!!. We assumed that things would die down after the exhibition, but it hasn't, so its difficult to keep up with things' MW

Where can I buy your paintings?

'Picturecraft gallery do a great job of handling all sales enquiries, we hope to have another exhibition in the summer 2011, alongside a book launch. We don't sell paintings privately as it makes the bookwork untidy!!' MW

We watched you at the Swaffham Rotary Club Demonstration, how did you cope with that?

'When I got into the swing of doing my picture I was fine, I did feel scared at the people being behind me at first, but I just started and I was ok. I went to art classes when I was 6 so I am used to people being behind me. It has helped me to get back into painting after our holiday to Cornwall, I was sad coming home and didn't want to paint as it wasn't Polperro, but this morning I started and finished an oil. I was really pleased with the pastel I finished at the Rotary Club demo too, that helped me to enjoy the day. I liked looking at all the other art work too, it was a nice place to be' KRW

What is a typical day like for you Kieron?

'I used to get up at 6am every morning and paint before school, I still get up early but I don't always paint, I might spend time watching tv or play fighting with Billie, but I am always thinking about what I can paint next. I like playing football and cross country running, I do time trials in the church yard each morning on the way to school. I like to go painting on location at the weekends with dad, I miss Polperro, we went there on holiday and I liked it a lot. I really like my school projects about the coast, so we went rock pooling on holiday so I did school work as well' KRW

How long does it take you to paint a picture?

'A watercolour used to take Kieron anything from 20 minutes upwards, but recently Kieron has focused more on buildings and architectural elements in his work, choosing then to go over them in a pen outline, so a watercolour can take a few hours now. Pastels can take between 1-4 hours depending on the size and content, oils can take between 3 hours to 3 weeks' MW

Why do you think Cornwall inspired Kieron to start painting?

'Who knows, it was the first time we had spent time together doing fun family stuff following Keith's accident the previous September, so it was a magical time anyway. The fact that Kieron started drawing for himself and has stuck at it, just reflects his determination. The bay that we walked to each night, was a quiet bay off the Helford river, near Gillan, it was lovely and quiet, for those that know Kieron, his passion for water is very strong!!!' MW

Will Kieron be at his exhibition this Friday?

'We are expecting a lot of people and interest in Kieron's work again this year, a lady is already camping outside the gallery, so we will probably allow the first half hour to pass before going to the gallery. We are all excited and nervous, hoping that people will enjoy seeing Kieron's latest collection, and it will be great to get some feedback. There are collectors flying in especially, so we will make a point of meeting them personally'. MW

Do you think Kieron will become another great artist, or will his talent leave him at puberty?

'Who knows, we have no idea what the future will bring, its important to remember that the comparisons between Kieron's work and that of the other 'great' artists have been made by the media, to us, it doesn't matter what he's doing in years to come, as long as he's doing what he wants to do. We have no preconceived ideas or expectations. Kieron has had the time of his life already, and nobody can take that away. Having his early work critiqued at this age is strange to us, but at the same time its exciting to see where he has come from, and the progress he's made even within a year, and on his own merit. Its really nice not being able to paint myself because it makes watching him paint that much more exciting and special. Kieron has to self stimulate and is self-taught, apart from a handful of lessons, so he deserves all the credit and praise because he puts in the time and effort. His favourite colour as a toddler was black, maybe he'll go back to it in his teens!! it'll be fun watching his journey.' MW

Does Kieron have Autism?

'A lot of people try to explain Kieron's talent by suggesting he has autism. Kieron is a normal lad, his growth and development were completely normal. Kieron is just a very focused and determined boy, who chooses to spend his time doing worth while activities, rather than wasting too much time. Kieron is good at his school work too, and enjoys football equally. Kieron does find it hard to switch off and we have to be quite strict when it comes to bed time and chill out time, because he tends to carry on regardless and won't unwind. We try to understand where Kieron gets his talent from too, because neither Keith or I are artistic and noone else in the family are artists. All we can say is that Kieron is a typical Leo, a typical Horse, which is his Chinese horoscope, we chose not to vaccinate the children at a young age, Kieron and Billie Jo also had chiropractic care from two weeks old and homeopathy instead of orthodox medicines. We've always had time for the children, and living in such a tight space as a flat, we have to get on well together. Praise, encouragement and enthusiasm are free, and are things we give in abundance.' MW

What countries have you sold your work to?

'Kieron has sold paintings to collectors in Holland, Germany, Canada, Greece, Portugal, Japan, England,  US, Taiwan, Scotland, France' MW

I wanted to ask about toxin exposure, and if the painting area is well ventilated?

'Thank you for your concern, we do worry about this too, although Kieron appears not to be covered in as much paint as before. We have been advised by the picturecraft art materials shop, and by individual artists on the best low-odour chemicals and materials. Kieron paints in the kitchen, which is ideal for its light and space, and ventilation, we would also make sure that any future work space was equally as good. If you have any specific recommendations, we would be happy to hear from you'. MW

A message of praise...

'We have recently met the Williamson's and want to say that they were relaxed, supportive and close as a family, you only need to look at how happy the children are to see that whatever these children are being taught, it is working for them. Well done on a fantastic journey so far, and still only at its beginning, good luck to you all. And we love Kieron's paintings!! Good luck with the exhibition, we'll be there'.

With a father as an art dealer, wasn't this engineered?

'We look back now at all the factors that may have played a part in setting the scene for Kieron's choice of hobby. But people need to realise that we didn't pick up on Kieron's ability until a year or so later. It was the support we received from the galleries in town that helped us to realise what Kieron's level of ability actually was. We just bought the art materials for him. With regards to Keith's work, after his accident in Sept 2007, not being able to return to the building trade, he had to turn his passion into a possible viable business, that was to buy and sell art from auction. So the boys started learning at the same time. Keith wasn't dealing at the time that Kieron started painting. Looking back at Kieron's baby book, he showed an interest in the paintings we have on the walls when he was just 12 months old. Kieron would know instantly if paintings were moved about. So we assume it was the environment that Kieron grew up in rather than us forcing his hand...'. MW

Why can't children be left alone to be themselves?

'I'm glad this question was raised, we agree completely, and what people don't gain from the media, is a sense of Kieron's character. You really need to get to know Kieron, and us as a family to understand that this current scenario, is completely led by Kieron, and we do the supporting. Its the same with football and cross country, the support is there because the activities are Kieron's choice and the level of support is what Kieron expects from us!!!. We have had to make some extremely difficult decisions since Kieron's media exposure a year ago, and we judge ourselves daily. As long as the family unit as a whole and the individuals within it are ok, happy with things and enthusiastic about what they do, then we will continue. I'm sure Kieron will send us all on another steep learning curve at some point, we'll wait and see. We have no major plans and will take things as they come'. MW

I read that you painted live at the Holt Rotary Club - how do you feel painting in front of people?

'I don't mind, because I don't think think about anyone else, I paint in a class of adults at workshops sometimes, which I did when I was 6, as long as I go at my pace and do my own thing I'm ok. I want people to know that its me who is doing the work. I enjoy it, and want other people to enjoy it too. When we go painting on location, people come over to look, and ask questions, its nice'. KRW

A question for the parents - what would you do if Kieron gave up painting?

'Kieron is so much more than his art, and if he gave up painting, he would fill his time with something else. We have suggested that Kieron think about a time when he doesn't sell commercially, and he doesnt mind. At this moment in time, he enjoys what he's doing, he has a balance doing all the other things he chooses, so he wouldn't lose anything. I can't imagine Kieron giving it up completely, even when on a train, he's sketching. As a family, if Kieron lost the media/commercial attention, we would re-gain our quiet family environment that worked for us before'. MW

What advice would you give to other parents wanting their child to take up art?

'To be sure that your child is interested in the subject before embarking on a journey. We have supported Kieron in his choice of past time, rather than directing him, the same with Billie Jo, she's equally artistic, but doesn't enjoy the lime light, she's a lot more reserved. So to put Billie in the public eye would not meet her needs or be fair. Kieron insisted on using quality art materials, that makes a difference. The kitchen is completely taken over by art and craft activities, so its hard to allow anything else to happen'. MW

Why do you like painting?

'I like painting because it's fun and inspiring. It makes me think of places I can't see'. KRW

Who is your favourite artist?

'At the moment it is Edward Seago, a Norfolk landscape artist.' KRW

How do you fit it all in to your day?

'I used to start painting as soon as I woke up in the mornings, but now I watch TV as well. I don't paint as much as I did, I like to play football and practice cross country running. I don't like sitting about, I'm always doing something.' KRW

How many hours a week do you have in art lessons and who teaches you?

'I go to Tony Garner's pastel workshops in Holt, probably every month or two, it is on a Saturday. Other than that I don't really have lessons anymore. I paint alongside Tony in the Picturecraft Gallery sometimes. My mum and dad can't paint, but they do like art, so I pretty much teach myself. Most of my learning is through 'happy accidents' where a nice effect comes out of rubbing a mistake out or something.' KRW

How did you get started and why do you use oils, pastels and watercolours?

'I started drawing for myself and using pencil crayons and brush pens first of all. My older sister gave me a set of watercolours, so I started using them. I also tried acrylics in the beginning too. Most of my early canvases are in acrylics. I did a 3 hour introduction to oil painting class, but I didn't get the hang of oil painting until the summer 2008. Now I like oils because its big and messy, I like big Norfolk skies. Pastels are also good fun. You get a better more dramatic sky in pastel.' KRW