Celebrity paintings of Royal Family, Ed Sheeran and Pink put South Shields artist on the map

Two years ago Kayley Newsome decided to paint a portrait of The Queen - to celebrate her 90th birthday - and send it off to Buckingham Palace.

To the 31-year-old’s delight she was sent a reply thanking her for her efforts - and a new hobby was born

Kayley, who has learning difficulties, epilepsy fibromyalgia, and needed two brain surgeries when she was a teeneager, originally turned to painting as a way to help with her medical conditions.

She said: “ I’ve always enjoyed painting and I’m not sure really why decided to start sending them to famous people.

“In 2016 I thought well, it’s the Queen’s birthday so she might like one and then I got a reply back and it was brilliant.”

Kayley, from Simonside, South Shields, now has received 255 replies from celebrities including the Script, Ed Sheeran and Phil Collins and Pink, which adorn her walls.

She said: “I have letters from the entire Royal Family, I sent Prince William and Kate drawings of the children and they wrote back and sent me some pictures.

“Then I sent Prince Harry a picture of his mum and he wrote back. I find it really exciting when I receive a letter.

“I have had 255 replies I frame them and then I put them on my walls, they’re everywhere.”

The colourful paintings can take up to a few weeks at a time for Kayley to finish.

Next on her list to paint, and hopefully receive a reply from, is X Factor mogul Simon Cowell.

She said: “I would love it if Simon replied back, so I think I will send him a painting next.”