A FORMER art teacher and widely acclaimed artist has died at the age of 87.

Peggy Watkins taught at Hereford Cathedral School and various colleges in the city.

She was the daughter of Thomas Milligan, the former principal of the School of Art on the Castle Green, and was married to the Rev Felix Watkins.

Peggy taught art at Hereford Cathedral School and her lessons included jewellery and silversmithing, as well as fine art. She later taught jewellery and silversmithing classes at the College of Art and she exhibited widely both portrait paintings and jewellery for a number of years.

Her artwork was exhibited by the Royal Academy, Royal British Academy, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Welsh Academy and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.

She also exhibited at the Longtown Eisteddfod and the annual Herefordshire Arts and Crafts Society, of which she was a founder member and a committee member for many years.

Peggy grew up in Hereford and was educated locally. With the exception of 19, years when she moved to Parkend in the Forest of Dean with her husband Felix, she lived in Herefordshire all her life.

Peggy had been married to Felix for 59 years and they had a son, Charles, who died in 1993, a daughter, Caroline, and four grandchildren.