Preparing for Glory: The Journey of a Young Artist to Their First Exhibition

An eight-year-old artist from Wellington, Somerset, is set to make his debut at an art gallery after catching the attention of curators online. Kevin Kovacs will be exhibiting his watercolour paintings depicting scenes around the south west of England at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton.

Centre director Andy Pulleyn expressed admiration for young Kevin, asking rhetorically, “For an eight-year-old boy doing that now, what might he be doing in the future?”

Kevin’s artistic journey began when his mother Natalia noticed his potential at just five years old. She recalls how Kevin taught himself by watching online tutorials and was astounded by the results.

Unlike many young artists who showcase their work on fridge doors, Kevin chose to share his paintings on social media where they quickly gained popularity. One of his posts received more than 300 interactions.

The Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre staff spotted Kevin’s works online and approached his parents with the idea of hosting his first exhibition. Angela Harding, the exhibition co-ordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for Kevin’s talent and felt that he consistently demonstrated exceptional skill beyond his age.

Kevin attends Beech Grove Primary School and shared that one reason he prefers watercolours is their quick drying time compared to oil paints. “Watercolours take half an hour to dry, whereas oil paintings can take up to a month,” he explained.

Kevin’s exhibition will kick off on 25 February and run until 28 April at the Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre in Taunton. The young artist is looking forward to having many pieces ready for his first solo show, reflecting on the joy of sharing his creativity with others.