A HIGHBRIDGE artist whose striking work was sent to the Royal Family following the birth of newborn baby Prince George at St James Palace’s request, has ‘gone viral’ across the Atlantic.

Tazia Fawley (pictured), aged 43, painted Rupert Flies Over the Clifton Suspension Bridge several years ago.

She is a member of Heart and Sold, a charity supporting and showcasing artists with Down’s Synrome.

When news broke that Kate Middleton was in labour with the third in line to the throne, Heart and Sold’s Suzy Moffat sent a photograph of Tazia’s Bristol Balloon Festival piece to St James’ Palace, inquiring whether they would like the artwork to honour the Royal baby. On July 25, a letter, sent direct from St James’ Palace, confirmed they certainly did want “to receive the painting”.

Since the Weekly News first published Tazia’s success story, her work had been flying off the shelves – and when the news was picked up by the Daily Mail, The Times, and then Huffington Post’s US platform, the requests skyrocketed, says Tazia’s sculptress mum Gylda Thomas.

So much so, that she and Taz have now had to put sales of the painter’s original work on hold ahead of her exhibition at Burnham’s Princess Theatre and Arts Centre... “else there’d be nothing left to hang!” says Gylda.

Gylda said: “We’ve had to stop selling them. Previously Taz had sold quite a lot but nothing like this.

“I think she finds it quite strange. In the past it’s always been people that she knew wanting to buy her work and it’s a big leap that all these people out there love her work, and in America in particular.

“Most importantly I have had lots and lots of people with Down’s in their families getting in touch. They kind of look towards Taz as a role model, and feel that if she can achieve what she has achieved, not in terms of her fame, but being able to do what she can do, it gives them a huge amount of hope.”

Tazia’s three-week exhibition opens at Burnham Princess’s Hall this Tuesday (October 1), from 10am-3pm.