A NINE-YEAR-OLD Nelson girl has been commissioned to do her first painting, after a local trader recognised her talent.

Maria Taylor, of Regent Street, loves drawing and painting and is hoping that this painting could be the first step on the path to becoming an artist.

She was asked by Joyce Ingham, the owner of Mill Trading Shop, in Leeds Road, to paint a picture of the exterior of the shop to be hung on the wall.

The painting took more than three and half hours to complete and Maria was presented with an art set and professional art paper for her efforts.

Mrs Ingham said: "We are very pleased that Maria has chosen the Mill Trading Shop for her first painting. We think she is a very talented young lady and will go far."

Maria's mum, Donna Kayley, said: "I used to go and have a look round the shop and Maria seemed to get on well with Joyce and used to bring her pictures she'd done. I was telling her that she seems very good and the teachers said how good she was.

"She asked Maria if she would do her a favour and said I'm going to give you your first commission. I took her up to the shop last week and it took her three and a half hours. She sketched it first and tried to get it in to perspective and dotted colour on to see what colour things would be. Then she brought it home and water coloured it here.

"She really wants to do art and I would love her to get into a job she really loves.

"Joyce's face lit up when she saw the picture and she said it was absolutely wonderful. Maria sits for hours painting and colouring and she draws animals most of the time and already has her own unique style."

The picture has now been framed and is hanging on a wall inside the shop.

Maria's grandad does calligraphy and she has been asked to learn it so that she can write a note which will be put next to the picture saying who it was painted by.

Anne Clements, headteacher at Primet Primary School which Maria attends, said: "We are very proud of her. We were proud initially that she had been commissioned to do the picture and we are very impressed with the final result.

"She is very keen on art and the painting is very good."