Better known for his large fearsome-looking figures, such as a naked Madonna and more recently the rock star Pete Doherty, the artist turned his hand to the more serene subject of a pupil outside one of the most picturesque primary schools in the district.

The painter, who has a host of famous fans, including Madonna, Sylvester Stallone and David Bowie, is a close family friend of Baldernock Primary School pupil Kyle O'Neil, who completed a project on Howson's work as part of an end-of-term project.

Headteacher Fiona Nimmo was overjoyed to accept the sketch on behalf of the school.

She said: 'We were really delighted to receive this gift from Kyle's family. It is a beautiful pastoral scene and captures the spirit of the school perfectly.

"It's most unlike the kind of work which people usually associate with Peter Howson and we can't thank him and Kyle's parents, Denise and
William, enough. It's a wonderful gift."

The school plans, with the permission of the artist, to sell a series of signed limited edition prints in aid of school funds. These prints will be available in the autumn.