AN 85-year-old Holcombe artist has become an unexpected YouTube star.

When Sally Fuller, an amateur watercolour artist, agreed to feature in her daughter Maria’s new YouTube project she didn’t anticipate it would lead to launching her own business.

But since the foundation of the Teignmouth and Dawlish Go Local YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing small businesses, Sally’s own watercolour painting has turned from a hobby into a business selling prints and cards.

Maria, an executive assistant and non-fiction author, set up the YouTube channel to turn her passion for storytelling into a way to support local businesses.

Each episode of the channel features a small business and showcases the business owner and their story.

Maria provides a tailored marketing strategy, a professionally produced short film, and guidance on how to use YouTube to attract more customers.

Sally, who has been painting watercolours as a hobby for about 17 years, took centre stage for the very first episode.

Maria needed someone to take part in her pilot programme to fine-tune her filmmaking skills, Sally volunteered, never expecting it to be anything more than a test run.

However, after going through the same process as any small business would, Sally found herself with a genuine business opportunity. Now, at 85 years old, she is selling her own prints and cards, supported by Maria, who handles enquiries on her behalf.

Sally has no website and no plans to manage the digital side of things, but thanks to her daughter’s initiative, her art is finally reaching a wider audience.

Maria explained: ‘Sally was never meant to be a business.

‘She was just helping me practise.

‘But through the process, it became clear that she had something special.

‘She’s now a business owner at 85, and I couldn’t be prouder.’

Teignmouth and Dawlish Go Local will release a new episode every week, featuring businesses from a range of industries including professional services, tradespeople, hospitality providers and more.

YouTube Channel Episode 1: https://shorturl.at/PZWUt