The clip of Ella Woodland’s rats dribbling paint across a square canvas went viral on February 12, racking up roughly 6 million views before she posted it on Vinted. Her followers grew from a handful of classmates to a global audience, turning a quirky hobby into a steady side‑business.
Woodland explains the trick: she sets up a small playpen, places a dab of washable paint, and lures the rats with a trail of baby food. The animals then trace the path, leaving tiny brush strokes that she photographs and edits for sale. The creatures now spend more time outside the cage, and she rewards them with treats after every session, a move she says keeps them happy and curious.
Buyers range from college friends looking for quirky birthday gifts to a bride who asked for a rat‑painted wedding present featuring her wedding colors. One customer even said the miniature had become “the most unique present we’ve ever received.” The pieces are listed at £15 each, with larger canvases fetching up to £50, and Woodland currently posts about 16 new artworks each week.
With the extra income covering a chunk of her tuition, Woodland plans to expand her online shop, hoping to bring more of her niche art to the market before the end of the academic year. She also intends to collaborate with the university’s arts club to showcase her work at campus events, potentially opening a new revenue stream while she completes her degree.