Dorking schoolgirl raises money by charging pupils for clay classes

AN ARTISTIC schoolgirl from Dorking has raised almost £200 by sharing her skills with her classmates.

Amelia Holbert, 12, is an expert at making small items from a polymer clay known as Fimo.

Amelia Holbert, 12, is charging her fellow pupils to learn how to model clay
Amelia Holbert makes unique figures with a clay-like material called Fimo
Amelia Holbert makes unique figures using Fimo, a type of clay RELM20120510D-002_C Photo by Liam McAvoy

She has taught dozens of fellow pupils at the Priory School, charging a couple of pounds a lesson to raise money for the school.

"We do it in our art classroom on Thursdays and so far I've raised £196 in two terms," she said.

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"I've got a jar with loads of flowers on it which is probably the favourite thing I've made, but I make all sorts – fairies, beads, flowers."

Amelia's parents run bead fairs which include lessons on how to use Fimo, and she started taking adult classes after her mother Yvonne was unable to teach one day.

Proud dad Paul Holbert said: "Yvonne ran these have-a-go classes, but last July she had a terrible cold so Amelia said 'I'll do it' and it went from there.

"She does the accounts for the school demonstrations, the teaching, and on top of all that she does ballet, tap, drama and her voice coach even suggested she go to the East Surrey Operatic Society.

"She now has a part in a production of Peter Pan."

Amelia hopes to study art at university and then follow in her parents' footsteps by having her own business one day.

"I want to work in art or design in the future, and I definitely want to run my own business," she said. "I want to make clothes. I love fashion and bright clothes."

The next bead fair will take place on May 27 at Dorking Halls from 10am to 4pm, and Mr Holbert promised £1 off entry (full price is £4) for anyone who takes this article with them.