We speak to Makenzy Beard, a young Welsh player making headlines for her stunning lockdown portrait

A Welsh under-16 player, who only first started hockey three years ago, can now add painting to her growing talents after a portrait she produced during lockdown – when she only started the ‘hobby’ for the first time – was selected for a Royal Academy show.

Makenzy Beard, still only 14, played for Wales under-16s against England at the weekend (her sister Leni is captain) and it looks set to be a busy summer for the year nine Swansea pupil after her painting of a local farmer was chosen ahead of over 30,000 submissions for the Young Artists’ Summer Show, which starts on July 13.

For more of Makenzy’s work head to her Instagram page

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