Norfolk artist Kieron Williamson looks back on childhood stardom

“The times were crazy back then. I’m glad it’s sort of quietened down a bit and, you know, I’m just an artist now.”

For Kieron Williamson, it’s hard to comprehend the scale of what went on 15 years ago – and what he has achieved since.

In 2010, the world’s media descended on the north Norfolk countryside to witness the hammer go down on landscape works by Kieron, one of the UK’s most promising painters – aged just seven.

By the age of nine, he was hosting his first career gallery and was on his way to becoming a millionaire.

Now, aged 22, and towering in height above his dad, his “mini Monet” moniker is consigned to history, in a physical sense. However, it will forever remain part of his identity as he takes his paintbrush and easel into young adulthood.

“I had sort of a love-hate relationship with it [mini Monet] – maybe because I heard it so much,” says Kieron, in his countryside studio close to where he grew up, and in the surroundings he remains inspired by.

“But I mean, what an honour to have my name up there with Monet’s, you know?”