A TEENAGE artist will be the first to show off and develop his creative talents in a new programme launched at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

New College student James Keel is the first Young Artist-in-Residence at the Bath Road gallery in its 79-year history.

While in the post, James will interpret and produce creative responses to the museum's collection of modern British art and act as an ambassador for the gallery who hopes to inspire other young people with an interest in art.

The 17-year-old said: “Art helps me to relax when stressed or anxious and has helped me to express how I feel. I enjoy expressing myself artistically because it gives others an insight into how I’m feeling at a particular time.

“It is very important for young people to have access to art as a way of processing and dealing with thoughts and emotions.”

Alongside his new role, James is studying A Levels in fine art, photography and media studies, and spends much of his time drawing new pieces.

Much of his work is inspired by his surroundings and he says he enjoys capturing places from new perspectives.

The collection he will be drawing inspiration from includes more than 600 artworks, including three Turner Prize winners, and SMAG says it is acknowledged to be one of the most nationally significant collections outside London.

It covers 140 years of modern art and includes big names like L.S Lowry, Lucian Freud, Grayson Perry, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Michael Craig-Martin, Howard Hodgkin, Frank Auerbach, and Richard Long.

It features work from most major movements and schools in modern British art, as well as an extensive collection of work by Wiltshire artists like Desmond Morris.

The Young Artist-in-Residence programme is run in partnership with New College Swindon and forms part of the Art on Tour project from the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

The project's learning officer Mags Parker said: “We are very excited to introduce James to the world. He is an immensely talented young man with a very bright future, who has overcome some significant challenges.

“The Young Artist-in-Residence programme is a key part of the Art on Tour mission to bring more art to more people. The inspiring effect of positive young role models cannot be over-stated and we hope that promoting James’s development and his work will inspire other young people to get involved.”

James’s impressive work will be displayed on social media and the Art on Tour blog.

Supported by Swindon Borough Council, Art on Tour aims to bring Swindon’s art collection to a wider audience throughout 2020 and is part of a wider initiative of free art engagement in Swindon schools.

New College Swindon's assistant curriculum manager for art and design, and photography, Karen Pau, said: “New College is extremely proud of all their learners who are taking part in this amazing opportunity with Swindon Museum and Art Gallery and Art on Tour.

"It is such an inspiring project and wonderful to see our amazingly talented young people play such a big part in it.”