(CNN) -- At first glance, they could almost pass for masterpieces by Monet or Renoir. 

But these impressionist-style paintings -- which are changing hands for thousands of dollars -- were painted by a five-year-old girl who is unable to speak. 

Meet Iris Halmshaw, an autistic child from Leicestershire, UK, who has been producing these striking artworks since she was three. 

She has autism, a condition that has made her unable to communicate except through the medium of art. 

"From the first painting, she filled the paper with color and it wasn't random -- it was considered and thought out," says her mother, Arabella Carter-Johnson. 

"She was so excited and happy I knew that we had found a key into her world and a way of interacting with her." 

Autism changed everything 

The journey started when Iris was two. Carter-Johnson and her husband, Peter-Jon Halmshaw, realized that something was wrong: she had not picked up any words, and rarely made eye contact. 

"We researched it ourselves," her mother recalls, "but as parents, you are always hoping that there was some other explanation." 

Iris was officially diagnosed as a child with autism. According to Carter-Johnson, the doctor was "depressing" because he told them that very few therapies worked. 

Not to be deterred, the couple embarked on "long nights of research", which led them to the idea of art therapy. 

The little girl picked up painting techniques astonishingly quickly, and before long was spending much time at work on her canvases. 

Remarkably for a child of her age, her sessions involved about two hours of consistent concentration. 
Where does Iris live?
What was thought out?
who said this?
When did her parents start to think something was wrong?
why?
What did they do first?
Was she ever offically diagnosed?
with what?
were there a lot of options for help?
how did that make the parents feel?
Were they able to find a therapy?
what?
How did they find that?
How did Iris do with it?
How long were her sessions?
What type of paintings does she do?
Is she selling them?
for how much?
What could these pass for?
Does Iris speak?
Leicestershire, UK,
Meet Iris Halmshaw, an autistic child from Leicestershire, UK,
her art
"From the first painting, she filled the paper with color and it wasn't random -- it was considered and thought out," says her mother, Arabella Carter-Johnson. 
her mother
"From the first painting, she filled the paper with color and it wasn't random -- it was considered and thought out," says her mother, Arabella Carter-Johnson. 

when she was two
he journey started when Iris was two. Carter-Johnson and her husband, Peter-Jon Halmshaw, realized that something was wrong: she had not picked up any words, and rarely mad
she had not picked up any words, and rarely made eye contact.
 she had not picked up any words, and rarely made eye contact. 
research
"We researched it ourselves," her mother recalls, "but
yes
Iris was officially diagnosed as a child with autism.
autism.
Iris was officially diagnosed as a child with autism.
No
According to Carter-Johnson, the doctor was "depressing" because he told them that very few therapies worked. 
depressed
According to Carter-Johnson, the doctor was "depressing" because he told them that very few therapies worked. 
yes
Not to be deterred, the couple embarked on "long nights of research", which led them to the idea of art therapy. 
art therapy.
which led them to the idea of art therapy. 

long nights of research
Not to be deterred, the couple embarked on "long nights of research"
The little girl picked up painting techniques astonishingly quickly,
The little girl picked up painting techniques astonishingly quickly, 
2 hours
involved about two hours of consistent concentration.
impressionist-style paintings
But these impressionist-style paintings 
yes

But these impressionist-style paintings -- which are changing hands for thousands of dollars -- were painted by a five-year-old girl who is unable to spea
1000's of dollars
But these impressionist-style paintings -- which are changing hands for thousands of dollars -- were painted by a five-year-old girl who is unable to speak. 
Monet or Renoir.
At first glance, they could almost pass for masterpieces by Monet or Renoir. 

no
painted by a five-year-old girl who is unable to speak. 
