The work of an old ‘master’ has inspired a new generation of young painters who attended a summer workshop at Mirfield’s Creative Arts Hub.

And now the portraits painted by the youngsters are being hung alongside the work of the late William Jordan, a former Batley headmaster, in an exhibition at the Hub which runs until August 30.

William Jordan, who died in 2011 at the grand old age of 88, took up painting at the age of 33 and was himself inspired by the children he taught. He became a well-known portrait artist, as well as producing landscapes, sporting images, abstract work and sculpture.

Two of his studies of schoolchildren, Towelling the Hair and Going to School, were purchased by the former Batley Corporation and are now part of the Kirklees Collection.

On several occasions Bill, as he was known, had work selected for the Royal Academy Summer Show and showed alongside David Hockney at the 1966 Yorkshire Artists Festival.

It is his portraits of schoolchildren that first brought Bill’s work to the attention of Creative Hub director Mark Milnes.

He saw a news item about William’s wife Joyce seeking to reunite some of his works with their subjects, which resulted in an exhibition at Batley Art Gallery in 2012.

The Hub now has a selection of Bill’s work in its archive, with around 25 pieces on show at the moment and the remainder on display at the newly-opened White Stag restaurant in Mirfield.

Bill was particularly influenced by the work of Paul Cezanne and Nicolas de Stael, but throughout his long career he absorbed many, varied influences, styles and techniques.

His main interest lay in the plastic values of oil paints and the enjoyment gained from the physical movement of the paint over the surface of the canvas.

Mark, who led a portraiture session with a group of young people attending the Hub’s summer arts activities programme, asked the children to produce work in response to Bill’s portraits.

He explained: “It seems only natural to include these pieces in the show, as they reflect the passions and interests of a man who spent much of his life embedded in education.”

The gallery on Huddersfield Road is open Wednesday to Friday from 10am until 5pm and on Saturday from 10am until 3pm. Entry to the show is free.