TV stars buy Joshua’s painting
£400 sale going a long way to hitting his charity target
This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have taken a shine to a young Hinckley artist and bought his latest masterpiece live on TV.
Joshua Matheson, 12, recently hit the headlines with his celebrity-inspired masterpieces.
To mark This Morning’s 30th anniversary, Joshua produced a picture of Holly and Phillip and his mum then sent a photo of it to the hosts.
“Joshua was at home poorly one day from school, watching This Morning on ITV with me,” said Joshua’s mum Rebecca.
“He decided to try painting a picture of Phillip and Holly to wish them a happy 30th anniversary.
“He did a lovely picture and incorporated the colours gold and teal to match their logo.
“I sent a photo of it to the This Morning Facebook page with a little about what he is doing.
“He was absolutely over the moon when they showed his painting live on the programme and even more so when they said they would match his £400 raised personally, bringing his total to £800.”
After seeing the painting, Phillip astonishingly offered to contribute another £400 to the National Autistic Society, in support of the budding artist’s wishes to raise money for the charity.
The team behind the show have since been in touch with Mrs Matheson and have assured her that the donation has been sent to the charity.
Joshua also hopes that the presenting duo will accept the painting as a gift, which producers say they are working to make happen.
In as little as two months, the youngster has raised £800 for the National Autistic Society and hopes to have increased this to £1,000 by Christmas.
“Everywhere he goes someone congratulates him on his success, he is very proud of himself and is setting himself more goals,” adds Rebecca.
“Joshua has now done some personal paintings for people of their loved ones and their pets.
“We are immensely proud of him and still wowed daily by the new paintings he does.”