Howard, 12, May Exhibit At Royal Academy

Although he has entered many painting competitions - and won only one prize - 11 year old Howard Clanford (Anthony Christian), London, has just been offered £8000 for an oil painting which will take him another two years to complete. The trouble with competitions is that Howard's work is TOO good. Nobody believes that he has painted the pictures himself.

For the past year Howard has spent every Friday afternoon in the National Gallery copying "Cavalry Battle," a 6ft by 4ft picture by Wouvermans. He is only a third of the way through his painting, but a Canadian art collector has offered to buy it.

Young Genius

Many well known artists have described Howard as "a young genius." He has just finished his first commissioned picture, another battle scene, which a London art dealer bought for £10, and he also plans to submit three pictures to the Royal Academy next year.

Now that he has gained a place in a local grammar school, Howard, who also sings in the Southwark Cathedral Choir, will have to give up his Friday visits to the Gallery and finish his painting during holidays. He buys all his material out of his 2s 6d a week pocket money and hopes to become a scenic designer.

I asked him what he will do with the £8000. "I should like to spend it on art lessons," he said "I've never had any lessons in painting or drawing."

Anthony Christian's "The Battle Scene" was completed in 1961. It took him over six years to complete, during which time he had received offers up to £8000. It was his first major work and is currently on display in The ICHOR Gallery in Yorkshire.
For more information, call +44 (0) 113 281 1223 or email maura@ichorgallery.com to contact the artists.