Saoirse Burgoyne, from Colchester, decided she wanted to raise funds to help the homeless after seeing a person sleeping on the streets.
Her mum Sinéad, a music teacher at St Benedict’s Catholic College, said: “When she saw a homeless person, she started crying and couldn’t understand it. She was very upset.
“She wanted to give them money, but I explained how charities work to give them a hot meal and clothing.
“She couldn’t sleep because it was playing on her mind, and she wanted to help.
“She thought of a cake sale, then she decided to sell her paintings—it was just something she wanted to do.”
In October, Sinéad bought lots of canvasses in different sizes and throughout the course of a week, Saoirse would do little paintings.
She would come home from school and “take real pride” in doing some painting every day, with bright colours, flowers and insects, and a variety of animals and settings.
“Sometimes she did a spray painting, sometimes she used proper paints,” Sinéad said.
“She took a lyric from one of my songs and took inspiration from that.
“She was loving it, because she loves painting anyway, but she knew it was going to help someone.”
Sinéad said: “There was such a glow about her, she was so happy and proud of herself that she had made a difference.
“She is really, really kind and has a lovely heart.
“It was a really good opportunity for her to know she’s made a difference.”
The money Saoirse raised has been donated to Musicians Supporting the Homeless, an Essex-based charity which was set up by musician Danny Hiles to raise awareness and funds for the homeless through music.
