Leigh artist Paul Karslake has unveiled a smart new art centre at a south Essex school.

It is designed to nurture pupils' talent and promote art in the community.

The new complex at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey, has been named the Karslake Centre, after Mr Karslake, 46, a previous winner of the coveted Evening Standard Environmental award.

Mr Karslake has also been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1990, and has attracted a following from the likes of Kate Moss, Gordon Ramsay, Keith Richards and Johnny Depp during his career.

The new complex will provide pupils with two new teaching rooms and gallery space to exhibit artwork from other schools, community groups and artists.

It will also enable the school to host out-of-hours projects and classes for nearby schools and people from the community.