WATCH: Black Country artist sculpting history at Stourbridge college

Luke Perry is well-known for his striking sculptures that celebrate the industrial heritage of the region, but his latest piece is also inspired by his time studying at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge.

The 33-year-old sculptor attended the college between 2000 and 2003, and still has a personal tie with his wife Natalie being an art technician there.

So when asked to produce a centrepiece for a cleared out area of college grounds, working with the current cohort of arts students, Luke jumped at the chance. He has been working on the design of the sculpture with them since June, and it is due to installed at the site on Monday.

"This has been a very personal job, and it is great to put a sculpture in a place that will be used by students and become part of the fabric of the old King Edwards but also the new."

Inspired by the architecture of the historic college, which was founded in 1552, Luke who still lives in Stourbridge has created a piece that he says both draws upon and parodies the neo-Gothic.

He explains: "It is two stone octagons placed on top of each other, similar to a cenotaph, and then projecting from that is a cast iron and steel fabricated piece which represents a moral compass.

"All around it there are signposts, and quotes from literature and film."

The inspirational quotes inscribed into the artwork include everything from 'I am the master of my fate' from the poem Invictus, to advice offered in blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 'You lost today, kid, but that doesn't mean you have to like it.' The work has also reunited Luke with his former English teacher Rosie Shale, who helped him and the students find fitting quotes.

Luke added: "We then looked at the college's old symbol which has a dragon and a lion on it. We decided on the mythical creature, and I have created a 25ft dragon which looks like it has just landed on top of it and is ripping off all the signposts."

The artist is hoping that the artwork will be enjoyed by both the current and future generation, including potentially by his seven-month-old daughter Indigo and three-year-old daughter Matilda if they decide to go to the college themselves one day.