iPad art lockdown venture pays off for Hartlepool artist Philippa

Philippa Kelly and some of the personalised artwork she has painted using an iPad.

After a few days of binging on TV series, she decided to put her art degree to good use and began experimenting with painting on her dad’s iPad.

The results were so good that Philippa soon started getting commissions from friends and strangers for digital paintings of people and their pets and customised phone cases.

She has turned it into a thriving lockdown business receiving more than 50 orders in less than two months.

Philippa Kelly from Seaton Carew has a fine art degree from Northumbria University.

Philippa, 21, who is currently on a gap year after completing her fine art degree at Northumbria University, said: “I was working at Tesco but because I’ve got asthma I wasn’t allowed to go in.

“I was getting really bored watching TV and thought I would try to do something with my art.

“As all my materials were still at my old university house and I couldn’t drive there, so I tried my dad’s iPad.”

Philippa, of Seaton Carew who also previously went to Cleveland College of Art and Design, watched some YouTube and Tik Tok before trying it for herself.

One of Philippa's pet portrait commissions.

“The more I keep doing it the better I’m getting,” she said. “One I had done one, a few people were interested and it just spiralled from there.

“It was a bit strange at first, but I’m enjoying it more than traditional painting.

“I think it adds more life to the photos. Also it means I don’t have to get everything out and put it away.

“I don’t want to destroy my parents room with paint!”

Philippa believes it is the personal aspect of the paintings that has proved so popular with customers and added it has given her a reason for getting out of bed while she must remain in lockdown.

She said: “I love it, it gives me a purpose. I hope it carries on.”

Dad Lee Kelly said: “We are extremely proud of her.”

Philippa has launched her own website called pipkellyart.com where anyone can see examples of her work and order commissions.

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