He may be only four years old, but Sharuk Rahman is hoping to be the next David Hockney.

The youngster, of Barkerend, Bradford, has just had two of his paintings accepted at the PJK Art and Poetry Gallery in Skipton.

Entitled Mountains and Hills and Valleys, the "semi abstract" work has been lavished with praise from visitors and the owner of the gallery.

The quality watercolours - worth £25 and £30 respectively - stunned his mother Khalida, 27, when she first saw them.

She said: "I was watching Coronation Street and thought I would keep him amused by letting him paint.

"I was just amazed at what he produced. I knew they were good but just kept them locked away.

"Then I showed them to friends and they were just knocked out by them, and I knew then to seek professional advice."

Along with her husband Mujibur, 36, they contacted several galleries, but it was Peter Krumins of the Skipton gallery who snapped him up.

Mrs Rahman said: "Many galleries said no just because he was four. They did not even see his work."

Mr Krumins said if the youngster's talent were nurtured he could become an exciting prospect.

He said: "He has a purely God-given talent and his two paintings have just gone on show. Visitors just assume it is the work of an adult and not a young child."

Mr Krumins, an artist and poet who has been running his gallery for three years, said he was very impressed with Sharuk's use of colour.

"It is abstract art and he has not overused the colours," he said. "It is important that his talent has been recognised at this young age and now he needs to find a good teacher to develop this potential."

Sharuk, who attends Green Lane First School in Manningham, said he would love to become a popular artist. "I think of the shapes and then pick the colours and make a nice picture," he said. "I like drawing rainbows, flags and cars."

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