Girl, 7, wins Saatchi Gallery competition after mother accidentally entered penguin picture she pain

Mangalore Today News Network

When Leilah Poulain painted a portrait of a penguin, her proud mother wanted to share it with friends and family.

So Rebekah uploaded a photo of it onto an online folder to allow them to see it.

But the 34-year-old accidentally uploaded it to a public file - which automatically entered Leilah, seven, into a national competition.

The winner was offered the chance to have their work exhibited at the internationally acclaimed Saatchi Gallery in London.

Talented: Leilah Poulain painted an abstract portrait of a penguin for fun two years ago aged just five

A year later, Rebekah was baffled when she received a call informing her the penguin had beaten 1,700 other entrants and been awarded first prize.

Yesterday, Leilah’s painting - which was drawn when she was five - was hung in the same gallery featuring works from the likes of Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

Rebekah, 34, of Torquay, Devon, said: ’I picked up a leaflet about the website myDrawings.me.

You can upload your child’s artwork to store it digitally rather than have it lying all around the house. I uploaded a picture I already had on my computer. It was the penguin.

’I thought it was a private folder I was uploading the picture to, but I must have clicked on the wrong settings, because when I came back to the website the picture came up on their home page.

’I was surprised, but I thought it was sweet they liked it enough to do that.

’A year later I’d forgotten about it, and then I got an email saying Leilah was a Saatchi winner.

’I called them and said "Thank you, but I don’t know what you’re on about."

Apparently there were 1,700 applicants - but Leilah wasn’t actually one of them. Not on purpose.

’It was quite funny really. I told my brother, who’s a graphic designer, and he couldn’t believe it. He said he’d love to exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery.’

The gallery is famous around the world for its contemporary art, having been opened by advertising guru Charles Saatchi in 1985 to exhibit his own collection to the public.

Close-up: The painting is on display at the Saatchi Gallery in London

Rebekah added: ’It seems it all happened because I’m such an idiot. I didn’t know what I was doing when I uploaded Leilah’s picture.

’Leilah’s great. She just loves to draw and paint. Sometimes she’ll come up with a cracker. She’s got a different take on the world. She’s a lateral thinker.

’When I told her the picture is going to be in a gallery, she thought it was brilliant.

’Leilah said ’Does this mean I’m a famous artist?’ She wants to go to see it in London now.’

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