A COLLECTION of paintings from local artists has been donated to a new arts centre built by Bury Grammar School for Girls.

The artworks have been donated by, among others, local artist and former Head of Art at the school, Jan Cebertowicz.

Ms Cebertowicz and her husband Don McKinlay, also an artist, advised the school on how to hang paintings in the arts centre.

A number of other artists donated works to the school.

Roberta Georghiou, headmistress of Bury Grammar School for Girls said: “We have been overwhelmed by the artists’ generosity.

“It is also exciting to think that we are creating something here for the future of the school.

“It will be enjoyed by our pupils now and it is my view it will become a treasure for those of the future.

“This is to be our own standing art exhibition. We have built a beautiful arts centre and it is only fitting that it should contain some lovely, contemporary work by artists in the North West.”

Professional artists Gerry Halpin and Ian Norris donated works to the collection.

Other works included those by Tony Ratcliffe and the late Dave Pearson, both lecturers at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Also included in the exhibition was a work by Anglesey artist Nathan Jones and a gift from Peter Skinner, an art connoisseur and the arts centre project director.

Ania Abdul-Wahab, a year 13 student at the school who hopes to become an architect, met the artists and helped in making decisions about the display of the work.