HE may be more of a little boy than an old master, but five-year-old Benjamin Jackson is well on his way to becoming a famous artist after holding the first-ever show of his work.

The Rushcombe First School pupil has raised £77 for a cause close to his heart after selling a collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures at St Nichola’s Church in Corfe Mullen.

He decided to collect for charity Parkinson’s Research as his much-loved great-grandmother has the illness, a progressive neurological condition that can cause tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement.

Mum Tracie Jackson said: “It all started in June, when he was doing a lot of art at school.

“He expressed an interest in the art he was doing, and started to talk about visiting galleries. Then he announced that he wanted to host his own art show. We talked to him about what an exhibition of art needed to have, and that it might include lots of different forms of art, and he really listened and took it on board.”

The youngster worked throughout his summer holidays to put together a collection of work, and his mum decided to hire the hall for the show after seeing the effort he put in.

“He knew that he wanted to raise money for Parkinson’s Research because his great-grandmother has Parkinson’s,” said Mrs Jackson.

“He helps her quite a bit and decided he wanted to donate any money he raised to that charity.”

The schoolboy sold his works of art for around 50p a time, and Mrs Jackson provided free coffee and cake to visitors.

She said: “He was absolutely determined to hold his show, and he worked very hard to make it happen.

“It’s lovely that he was able to raise the money for such a fantastic cause.”