Kick ass! The donkey whose paintings sell for £100

Kick ass! The donkey whose paintings sell for £100 Caters

Got kids on school holidays sitting at home twiddling their thumbs ? Need some inspiration as to how to entertain them? We've found just the thing...

Meet Pic-ass-o Patty, the rescue donkey making a name for herself by painting.

Donning a red beret, Patty wields her paintbrush with her mouth and creates ee-oresome masterpieces, one brushstroke at a time.

Her portfolio boasts a collection of vibrant designs, which have so far fetched more than £100 - despite only taking her up to ten minutes to complete.

Patty now lives at HorseWorld Visitor Centre in Bristol, after being rescued from a UK auction where she was for sale after being shipped over from Romania.

Her handler Vicky Greenslade said Patty took just three weeks to learn how to paint via a positive reinforcement technique: when she paints on the canvas she gets a click to tell her she's done well.

And, assistant manager at HorseWorld Miss Greenslade said she's keen to show off her skills to visitors.

According to the Daily Mail, she said: "Patty is a huge show-off, she loves people watching her paint - she's not at all shy anymore."

And Patty isn't the only animal who likes to paint; over at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Karishma the elephant has turned out to be quite the talented painter, and, when she isn't being mum to her baby George, loves to relax by putting paintbrush to paper.

Elephant keeper Elizabeth Becker said: "Karishma really enjoys painting, and it demonstrates just how dexterous elephants' trunks really are. Whilst her paintings may not be as detailed as a Da Vinci, we think the finished products are pretty amazing!"

See more great days out for kids here:

Best budget days out for kids in the UK

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
<p> The outdoor scenes of the Harry Potter films were shot in the grounds of <a href="http://www.alnwickcastle.com/ ">Alnwick Castle</a>, and it makes a great day out for Potter fans of all ages. The 1000 year old castle is home to the Duchess of Northumberland and her family, but it’s open to the public from April to October. A family ticket costs £34, and for that you can visit the State Rooms, Castle Courtyard, Museums and Grounds, as well as dressing up as a medieval knight for Knight’s Quest and the opportunity to enter the Dragon’s Lair. Harry Potter fans will enjoy broomstick training, falconry and a Hogwartian party and you can also visit one of the largest treehouses in Europe, which can be accessed via suspended walkways and rope bridges. </p> <div> </div>
At-Bristol Science and Discovery Centre
<p> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">You won't be disappointed if you take the kids for a day out at <a href="http://www.at-bristol.org.uk ">At-Bristol</a>: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">it’s one of the UK’s leading science and discovery centres and you’ll have access to more than 300 interactive, hands-on exhibits - so it's worth every penny. </span></p> <p> A family ticket costs £35.50 and this allows you to come and go all day. Exhibits include a walk-through tornado, a TV studio, an exhibition about the human body including a real human brain, and an animation exhibition in collaboration with Aardman Animations. If the weather is fine there are lots of outdoor spaces that are perfect for picnics, so you won’t need to spend a fortune on lunch. </p> <div> </div>
WWT Wetland Centres, nationwide
<p> There are nine <a href="http://www.wwt.org.uk ">WWT Wetland Centres</a> across the UK and all of them offer something different, from interactive exhibits to canoe and bike safaris, discovery trails and educational play areas. You can experience the best of British wildlife on a wetland walk, talk or safari, where you might spot water voles, hares and dragonflies - or even a ‘bat walk’ in London. With centres in Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), Martin Mere (Lancashire), Welney (Norfolk), Llanelli (Camarthenshire, Wales), Caerlaverock (Dumfriesshire, Scotland), London, Arundel (West Sussex), Washington (Tyne & Wear) and Castle Espie (County Down, Northern Ireland) there’s bound to be one near you - and many activities are absolutely free. </p> <div> </div>
The Roald Dahl Trail, Buckinghamshire
<p> Fans of Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach will enjoy a visit to Great Missenden, Roald Dahl’s home town. The Roald Dahl Trail takes you all round the surrounding area, including the woods, hills and farmyard that inspired some of his most famous tales. <a href="http://www.visitbuckinghamshire.org/site/great-days-out/roald-dahl-trail ">Download the trail</a> for free and plan a day that could include the Angling Spring Wood Talking Trail, a run around Waddeston Manor’s Woodland Playground and a trip to the village of Turville. You could pretend that you’re the BFG and take a trip to <a href="http://www.bekonscot.co.uk/">Bekonscot Model Village</a>, which costs £26 for a family ticket, or pay a visit to the <a href="http://www.roalddahlmuseum.org/">Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre</a>, which costs £19 for a family ticket. </p> <div> </div>
Family Friendly Cycling
<p> <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Whether your children are old enough to ride their own bikes or need to use a child seat or trailer, a family bike ride is great way to have a fun day out without spending too much money. Sustrans recently launched a <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids ">‘Free Range Kids’ </a></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/freerangekids ">campaign</a> to get kids out and about, and have a list of family friendly routes all around the UK, complete with suggestions about museum visits, where to eat and what to see. If you live in the north, you could take the three-mile route along Harland Way from Wetherby to Spofforth, taking in the medieval centre and castle on the way. If you’re in the south west, take the 5.5 mile route from Exeter South to Turk Lock, taking in the Exe Estuary and the wildlife reserve. </span></p> <div> </div>
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester
<p> It’s completely free to enter the <a href="http://www.mosi.org.uk">Museum of Science and Industry</a> (MOSI) and with collections ranging from early textile machinery and modern X-ray equipment plus galleries packed with cameras, aircraft and local history, there’s plenty to keep everyone amused. You can even take a walk through a Victorian sewer! It’s a great educational day out - and it’s fun, too. </p> <div> </div>
Royal Air Force Museum, Shropshire
<p> The <a href="http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/ ">Royal Air Force Museum</a> in Cosford houses 70 aircraft and is home to war planes, missiles, transport and training and research and development collections. It’s a great day out for aircraft enthusiasts who will love the opportunity to see some of the world’s most impressive planes close up. There are special events throughout the year, including flight simulators and investigation trails - and admission won’t cost you a penny. </p> <div> </div>
National Railway Museum, York
<p> If your little ones love trains, then the <a href="http://www.nrm.org.uk/">National Railway Museum</a> is a great place for them to let off some steam. There are 100 locomotives under one roof - and the highlight is the Hogwarts Express, the train used in the Harry Potter films. The record-breaking engine Mallard is also on display and there are Explainers on hand to tell you all all kinds of interesting facts. You can also enjoy steam rides, an action-packed science show and a playground - and admission is completely free. </p> <div> </div>