TikTok star surprises fans with mirror painting

BBC A crowd of people standing outside a Blue Cross charity shop smiling at the camera. At the front is a blonde woman in a white t-shirt holding up a mirror, painted with purple and blue patterns, in a gold frame.BBC
Sophie Tea bought a mirror from a charity shop, painted it and raffled it off

A TikTok star has surprised her fans in Oxfordshire by painting a mirror she bought from a local charity shop and raffling it off in person.

Sophie Tea bought the item from Witney Blue Cross on Friday as part of her Charity Shop Friday series, which aims to raise awareness of buying second hand.

About 90 people gathered at the shop to meet her and try to win the piece, a turnout Ms Tea said was "amazing".

"I can't really believe it... I feel pretty lucky," she said.

Sophie Tea Art A blonde woman in a white t-shirt carrying a mirror on her head as she walks down the pavement with about 20 people watching and taking photos on their phones.Sophie Tea Art
About 90 people gathered at the shop to be in with a chance of winning the mirror

Ms Tea has already gained over a million followers for her initiative, where she visits charity shops across England, buys an item, paints it that day, and returns it for the same price.

On the day, she drops hints about her location on social media so fans can find her, and in the past 10 weeks she has visited Bristol, Worcester, London, Hertfordshire, Solihull and Exeter.

She said she started the series to meet people after moving back to the UK from Sydney, but it has now "ballooned into this amazing thing".

"It's raised awareness for second hand shopping," she said.

Sophie Tea Art The mirror photographed propped up in a grassy field with blue sky behind it. It's in a gilded metal frame and is painted around the edges with an abstract flower pattern in shades of blue, purple, pink and white.Sophie Tea Art
Laura Clarke, who won the mirror, said it was "beautiful"

Ms Tea said the mirror bought in Witney was the largest surface she had ever painted.

She also visited the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Burford.

"They've been amazing," she said.

"I got to see all the great work they do."

After she finished the painting, a raffle was held and winner Laura Clark said the mirror was "beautiful".

Following this, Ms Tea remained at the store and drew on a about 60 items people had bought there.