Abby Pham is a 13-year-old artist from Australia who specialises in hyper-realistic and classical realistic drawing. Working mainly with pastel pencils and graphite, she has developed a level of technical control and observation that is uncommon for her age. Her work focuses on accuracy, expression, and careful detail, particularly in animal and portrait subjects.

Born in Vietnam, Abby began drawing at the age of two. From an early age, she was drawn to pencils and paper, often sketching quietly on her own. By the time she was six, her interest had deepened and her drawings became more detailed and intentional. “Ever since I was able to hold a pencil, I had always dreamed of becoming a professional artist,” she says. She spent many mornings drawing before school, learning largely through practice, repetition, and close observation rather than formal instruction.

At eight years old, Abby began exploring realism more seriously. She worked from reference images, real-life objects, and her surroundings, gradually refining her technique. By age ten, she expanded into coloured pencils and soft pastels and started drawing directly from life whenever possible. Around this time, she also began receiving commission requests for pet and portrait drawings, which led her to create her own website to share her work.

Now aged 13, Abby continues to develop her skills while training in classical realism at an art academy, where she is the youngest member accepted into the program. This training has strengthened her technical foundation while allowing her to continue working at her own pace and style.

Her work has received recognition both nationally and internationally. In 2025, Abby was named one of the Top 100 Child Prodigies in the World by the GCP Awards. She has won first prize twice at the Young Bayside Art Exhibition (10–13 years category, 2023 and 2024) and received First Place in the Young Artist category at the Moonee Valley Art Show. Her artwork for the BSAVA PetSavers Art Competition won first prize in the under-16 category and was featured in the March issue of BSAVA’s Companion magazine. She was also a finalist in the Global Canvas Art Competition, selected from participants across 72 countries. Wildlife organisations have since commissioned her work for product-related artwork.

More recently, Abby was awarded third place in the Never Such Innocence International Competition. That piece has been selected for display at the Summer Exhibition at Kensington Central Library in London (7–20 July 2025). She was also named a recipient of the Youth Bayside Awards 2025, and her pastel portrait Connie has been selected for publication in Artists & Illustrators, a magazine by Chelsea Magazine.

Abby continues to focus on improving her work through observation, discipline, and consistent practice. She is particularly interested in realism as a way to study form, texture, and expression, and approaches each drawing with patience and respect for the subject.

“I try to show the beauty of animals and the moments we often overlook,” she says. “Every drawing teaches me something different, even when it doesn’t turn out the way I planned.

Meet the 13-year-old artist:

Abby Pham