Rats' paintings sold to people around the world

A veterinary nurse's pet rats have been creating mini paintings which are being sold to people around the world.

The rodents, who are owned by Somerset resident Steph Toogood, make the art by walking through paint.

Portraits sell for up to £35 per canvas and have been helping to shift people's opinions of rats.

Ms Toogood, 26, said: "A lot of people have come to me and said that what I do with the photos I share has changed their perception of rats, which is lovely to hear."

Ms Toogood first started owning rats in 2016 after her father died and she found them a "huge comfort".

But it was only after one of her pet rats passed away a couple of years later that she came up with the idea of rat art.

"The rats started creating art - in 2018 after I lost one of my rat, Captain Jack Sparrow," she said.

"I took his paw prints and wanted something for my current boys to create which I would keep to treasure and so I found some mini canvases, and the boys got to work."

Since then hundreds of mini masterpieces and other rat-related products have been made and sold online to people across the globe.

Customers can also choose which rodent artist they would like to create their paintings.

"When I first started my business, I had 12 boys who were involved in painting," Ms Toogood said.

"I now have five bucks [male rats] and 11 does [female rats], 12 of whom paint.

"The rats that don't paint aren't on the commissions list either for health reasons, they're too young, or they just don't enjoy it," she added.

Using non toxic water-based paint, the mini Pawcassos are placed in a bath and guided through the paint on to miniature canvas.

"The rats are trained to follow my hand and treats," she said.

"The rats are never forced to run through paint, if they show any signs of unwillingness on the day, we stop."

Ms Toogood also has a "rattery account" on Instagram, which shows what the pets get up to on a day-to-day basis.

"I think that photographs help to capture how cute rats really are and show a different side to them, and that domesticated rats are in fact very different to their wild counterpart," she added.

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