Six-year-old 'autistic painter' meets Lord Mayor of Sheffield

The young artist – who, like painting legends such as Picasso and Banksy, simply goes by the name Zak – suffers from a number of medical conditions, including autism, epilepsy and hypermobile joints meaning sometimes it can be very difficult, exhausting and painful for him to hold items such as a pen or even a paintbrush.

Despite this, the six-year-old from Sheffield loves to paint and creates multiple pieces of colourful artwork a day.

His work always features flowers or poppies along with the iconic Lancaster bombers – something that astounds Zak’s grandfather and full-time carer, Paul Brown, as the youngster has never even seen one.

“We don’t know why Zak puts Lancaster bombers in most of his paintings or why he loves Derwent Dams so much but this reflects in all his paintings,” he said.

“There’s just something amazing about them. When he gets a brush in his hand, it’s just outstanding. Since he was 19-months-old he has always had paints. The first picture he did with proper paint was when he was around two-years-old. We thought he’d had help with it as from an adults point of view it was just incredible.

“As he got older he started with oil paints on canvas and they’re large canvases. It is just his life, it helps calm him down and really is just an amazing thing.”

After hearing Zak’s story, Sheffield’s Lord Mayor Tony Downing decided to invite the youngster to the Town Hall for a visit.

Coun Downing, who is also representative for Mosborough Ward, said: “I thought it was a fabulous opportunity to take a look at what he’s done and to see if there was any way we can promote his work.

“He’s a little boy that has got so much talent, it’s unbelievable for someone of his age and with learning difficulties as well – it’s just absolutely fantastic.”

Zak recently donated two large paintings of the Derwent Dams to Ladybower Fisheries, which provides fishing opportunities for members of the public at Ladybower Reservoir.

The paintings will first be exhibited around the area before being auctioned off in bid to help them improve their disability access and purchase a larger, eight-person wheelchair accessible boat to take groups of people out on the water.

There will also be the opportunity to purchase the prints in either A3 or postcard format with a brief description of Zaks story so far.