Year 11 artists Maia Hetariki and Jasmin Dunn have been getting recognition beyond the classroom for their talents.

Maia, who paints portraits, has two of her works for sale at the Tula and Niles Gallery.  She's also been commissioned to work on two more pieces.  One of these is for a builder who was working on her home.  On seeing the calibre of her portraits, in particular one she did of legendary rocker Keith Richards, he's asked her to do a portrait of Robbie Williams.

Maia says she'd like to move into painting more people that she knows and elderly people in particular.  She says with the hours she works in a local retirement village, this shouldn't be too hard to do.

Fellow artist Jasmin Dunn sold three of her artworks at the recent Nelson Expo show.  She also paints people, as well as birds, flowers and nature.

She said it felt good when the works sold.  "Great.  I felt happy.  Some people actually liked my art, getting it out there."