A talented and hardworking teenager has used her artistic skills to beautify her former school.

Yukia Hall, 14, has volunteered her time to paint a student walkway at Somerset Primary for the past few weeks.

The CedarBridge Academy student, who starts S2 classes this week, said her aim with the project was simple.

She said: “It’s basically just making the environment a better place for little kids.”

Yukia said the way she had become involved in the effort had come as a bit of a surprise.

She explained: “My mom told me we were working on a project.”

She said she initially thought the project would involve something to do with graffiti-style art, a form she had recently expressed an interest in pursuing.

The pair later went to Somerset Primary where her mom asked her to draw some bees — the school’s mascot — on the walkway.

Yukia added: “I ended up drawing a lot of bees, and she ended up doing the flowers.”

She has been working to paint the sketches since — with some help.

Her younger brother, KiRico Hall, who is a student at Somerset Primary, enjoyed lending a hand so that his sister did not have to work alone.

KiRico, 8, said: “We get more done.”

He shares his sister’s passion for art and hopes to take part in similar projects in the future.

Yukia was attracted to art because of the freedom for expression it allows.

She explained: “You can express yourself on so many levels.

“It doesn’t even have to be understandable — because art is anything.”

O’Brien Osborne, the principal at Somerset Primary, said Yukia had shown a passion and talent for art while at the school.

He described the job she had done on the walkway as “outstanding”.

He added that the teen had been faithfully coming to school to paint for the past few weeks, despite also having summer job commitments.

Mr Osborne said that Yukia often painted in the evening and on weekends to work around her busy schedule.

He said her enthusiasm and work effort showed commitment, dedication and community spirit.

Mr Osborne added: “Yukia has always been that way — she’s always been industrious.”