Junior Picasso to his friends and family, Radhey Patel (11), a class VI student of the Gurgaon-based Scottish High International School, will be moving to the UK in July this year to continue his studies in one of three British public schools, which have offered him art scholarships. Merchant Taylors, Aldenham, and The John Lyon schools have awarded this budding artist full scholarships for a year. Meanwhile, this month (May) the National Institute of Fine Arts (NIFA), Gurgaon will stage a three-day exhibition of his paintings.

Radhey’s paintings are far ahead of his years. I can’t recall any artist who has made such a great impact at such a young age, says Renu Khera, director of NIFA. When Radhey began drawing and doodling at age seven, his supportive parents encouraged him by sending him to summer art camps and then to NIFA classes every weekend to learn drawing and painting techniques.

Ideas pop up for new drawings, paintings and collages first thing every morning. Expressing these ideas is exciting and makes my day complete, he says. A recent graduate to slapping oils on canvas, Radhey has achieved parochial fame with local newspaper supplements regularly publishing his output after NIFA labeled him a œchild genius.

Radhey’s next challenge is to mount an online exhibition of all his work in support of BBC’s Children in Need programme, which inter alia, auctions works of art to raise resources for underprivileged children in South Asia. Radhey is a gifted student who combines serious study with several extra-curricular activities and has a bright future in fine arts, says  Sudha Goyal, principal, Scottish High International School.

A multi-dimensional youngster who also plays golf and cricket, Radhey hasn’t decided whether art is a hobby or future profession. I have plenty of time to decide. I also love academics and sports but for the moment I’m just focused on enjoying my childhood, he says.

Way to go!

Autar Nehru (Delhi)