Five-year-old Larbert girl turns garage doors into works of art to raise spirits

Proud mum Christine Hilditch looks on with joy each time daughter Eilidh picks up a piece of chalk and draws her latest masterpiece on the garage doors of their family home in Larbert

The level of detail the Larbert Village Primary School pupil puts into her eye-catching artwork has made her something of a local celebrity with neighbours in Broomage Avenue and beyond.

A community artist herself, Ms Hilditch is glad her passion has rubbed off on Eilidh.

Larbert mum Christine Hilditch, a community artist, and five-year-old daughter Eilidh have been producing a series of colourful drawing to brighten up the day for passers-by - with a little help from baby sister Isla. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The pair have been working together throughout each of the coronavirus lockdowns to create new designs in the hope of putting smiles on others’ faces.

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She said: “It started when she was in nursery. In April we started doing big chalk drawings on the garage.

“We live on a busy road and could see people doing their daily walk, and we thought we would give them something different to look at.

Eilidh presents her latest garage door masterpiece. Picture: Michael Gillen.

“Everything was Eilidh’s idea. One day it was butterflies and bees, and the next it was dragons and sunflowers.

“It gave her confidence. She’s always had an interest in drawing and, like everyone else, she’d done a drawing of a rainbow and enjoyed doing that.

“It so happened the doors were painted black.

“I think it comes from me! I’m a community artist anyway so, because I’ve not been getting much work, it was to help mental health as well. I’m based locally and usually work with older artists.”

Despite breaking her elbow during an accident on a roundabout last summer, Eilidh remained determined to push on with her project.

In a show of sisterhood, her younger sibling Isla, who turns two this year, has also been lending a hand.

Ms Hilditch explained: “Even after that she was still outside with the broken arm trying to draw.

“It’s been great because we’re getting stopped constantly by people out walking their dogs or going to the local shop, so she’s beginning to get recgosned and asked if she’s the one who did it.”

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