A TALENTED five-year-old with a rare genetic condition has found her voice through painting – and now has her very own exhibition.

After being born two weeks early with fluid on her lungs, Millie McGuinness spent the first few days of her life in special care.

Her mother, Emma Pauley, took her to a GP and red flags over her development were soon raised. Doctors believe she has a rare neurological, genetic condition that means her body doesn’t function the way it should.

“Millie was posturing and not using her arms properly. I would dangle toys in front of her face but she wasn’t all that interested. Then, when she finally took an interest, she tried to grab them with her mouth. She wouldn’t use her arms,” said Emma.

Millie, from Dunfermline, has microcephaly, low muscle tone and is non verbal. However, art and painting has become the main therapy for the youngster and her abstract work will take pride of place with an exhibition at Fire Station Creative in Dunfermline.

Emma said: “Painting has helped her learn to use her arms and concentrate on her fine motor skills. Her work is created by building up layers of colour using a variety of different techniques.

“She loves to spread the paint across the page with her hands and then draw over the top with crayons and pencils. She’s good at drawing lines, dots and circles and the more excited she gets the faster she paints. Her work is very emotive.”

She continued: “Disability doesn’t have to mean inability. Millie has passion and has found her voice by painting.

“She has a freedom to express herself when she paints. She loses herself in the moment and is caught up in the sheer joy the art brings her. And she has a natural flair. She is great with colour and creates some astounding works.

“Her happiness and joy of life shines through her work like sunbeams. When she’s painting, she’s smiling. As a parent I want my child to have the opportunity to lead a happy and successful life. I want her to have the opportunity that every other person has.”

It is perhaps no surprise that Millie has taken to art, as her mother formerly owned Miss Pauley’s furniture, arts, craft and gift store, on Chalmers Street.

Emma previously won the Test Town competition to help young entrepreneurs get their business up and running. Unfortunately, she had to close her shop last November, but continues to work from home.

Emma added: “Millie has the capacity to carve out a life and a career with some support. She doesn’t get asked questions like, what do you want to be when you grow up?

“People don’t ask her what her dreams are. And because she’s non verbal she can’t tell them, but through painting she can show them.

“Art is a tool for expression for Millie and, as a bi-product of that, she has created wonderful pieces of abstract art. I want to thank the Fire Station Creative for supporting her and being an inclusive and supportive venue.”

Ian Moir, gallery curator, said: “I was very intrigued by the quality of her work. It’s consistent with the ethos of the other art we have here right now and I was so enthusiastic to show her work here.

“I would encourage people to come and see it. It adds a vibrancy to the place. We had wall space available and we’re an inclusive gallery that wants to include everyone in the community, especially such good work like hers.”

Millie’s work will be on show in the cafe for 10 days from yesterday (Thursday) to October 29.