SCHOOLCHILDREN were the first to enjoy the William Morris Gallery's new learning centre last week.

The pupils from Coppermill Primary School were invited to the newly improved gallery in Lloyd Park, off Forest Road, Walthamstow, to learn about the famous artist and designer's life before making using the inspiration to make some prints of their own in the learning centre, which they opened by cutting the ribbon on Friday, September 21.

The children from the school in Edward Road, Walthamstow, were helped by local artist Anna Alcock, who runs Inky Cuttlefish printmaking studio in Blackhorse Lane.

She said: "They were amazing, I'm always by how such young kids can be so imaginative, it's incredible. I talked to them about William Morris and taught them how to make the prints and they really enjoyed themselves. The learning centre is great. It's more hands-on about trying to get young people to find out who William Morris was."

The gallery, which was the artist's 19th century home, was reopened in August after a £5 million revamp.

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter