Rico Lambert dreams of growing up to be a professional artist — and his teacher wants the world to see his “unbelievable” talent.

The nine-year-old Paget Primary School student is an Active Learner on the autism spectrum. Sometimes he has challenges communicating verbally but he is able to express himself fluidly through his art.

His work has gone on display in a solo exhibition at Washington Mall, and his teacher, Freda Trimm, is pushing for it to be exhibited in the Clock Tower in Dockyard.

Special aid teacher Mrs Trimm noticed Rico’s talent 2½ years ago when she began teaching at the school and has been trying to have his work displayed ever since.

She said: “Rico is always taking snapshots — he has always got his lens on. He learns through drawing and if he wants to express himself, a lot of times he expresses himself through art.

“He is our artist in residence at Paget Primary. When you teach — regardless of whether a child is diagnosed with exceptionalities — we always have to look at an individual’s multiple intelligence, whether it be social or artistic. You have to look at all those aspects.

“He could go somewhere with this — animation or design — he really pays attention to detail.

“He always says, ‘I’m a drawer, I’m going to have my own business.’”

Rico has dozens of framed original drawings ranging from portraits of his classmates and teachers to cartoon characters, scenes of Paris, and the skeletons of dinosaurs.

He told The Royal Gazette: “I’d like to do drawing as a job. My favourite thing to draw is dinosaurs.”

The exhibition took place as part of April’s Autism Awareness Month.

Students on the autism spectrum at Paget Primary have been treated to numerous activities throughout the month and joined the Royal Bermuda Regiment to learn about the different roles of a soldier.

“Learning is not just about being in the classroom,” Ms Trimm said. “Hands-on learning is ever so important.”