A young woman from Oldham is using her talent and entreprenurial to help finance her way through her university from September by setting up an online portrait service.
Amy Brocklehurst, 19 from Royton, has always been interested in Art but only recently, with encouragement from Connexions staff, started selling her work.
'I've been a volunteer for Connexions for 5 years, recently I've been helping out at events, drawing portraits for the public. Doing this has given me the drive and confidence that my work has value.'
'Since then I have done portraits for friends, family and colleagues, and it's really escalated from there. It's something I hope to continue through university and hopefully this will go someway to helping with the financial demands that university brings. If people want a portrait doing I can do this from a photograph which they can just email me.'
'After my A Levels I did an Art Foundation BTec at the Oldham College, and from there I've gained a place on a hugely prestigious Illustration course at Falmouth University in Cornwall.'
'I really enjoy capturing the human form, and so far people have been really pleased with the work I've done. One day I would like to travel, painting people everywhere I go, like the artists I saw on a recent trip to Paris.'
Anyone interested in contacting Amy, or seeing examples of her work should visit her blog Amy-PencilFingers.blogspot.comor email Amy-Pencilfiners@live.co.uk
