Stourbridge News:

INTERNATIONALLY renowned artist Luke Perry has unveiled his new sculpture at King Edwards VI College in Stourbridge.

The Cradley Heath artist worked with pupils from his old college to design the sculpture which is a moral signpost with a dragon on top of it.

The college has a dragon on its historic crest and the sculpture has now been installed in college grounds where students can see it every day.

Mr Perry, who helped recreate the Titanic's anchor in Netherton for Channel 4, said: "I used to attend King Edwards College so this has been a great project for me.

"We wanted a sign post which has got various quotes from literature including James Joyce which would act as a moral post too."

He added: "The dragon was chosen because it is on the college's emblem and really makes the sculpture eye-catching.

"The college wanted a focal point for an outdoor area where students could study and be inspired."

The £5,000 commission is part of the college's student union wish to create a long-lasting legacy with money they had raised.

College principal Remley Mann is delighted with the finished sculpture.

She said: "The sculpture looks wonderful in our grounds and we know our students will love it being here.

"The college student union wanted to commission a work of art and as Luke Perry is an old student and captures the heritage of the Black Country so well we thought we would ask him.

"He spent a long time walking around the site to get inspiration and find somewhere suitable for the sculpture."

She added: "We wanted an art piece that reflected the heritage of the college and how it has helped students in the past, and in the present and will help them for their future."

Governors, pupils, staff and dignitaries gathered for the unveiling of the sculpture at the college on Thursday.