A world renowned artist who trained in Carlisle has been honoured by the University of Cumbria.

Professor Emeritus Margaret Harrison was made an honorary fellow of the university as three days of graduation ceremonies came to a close.

Yesterday's events celebrated those who have developed their talents in areas such as the arts, theology and outdoor studies.

Many were from the university's Institute of the Arts, a campus based at Brampton Road in Stanwix, Carlisle.

Prof Harrison was recognised for her lifelong and outstanding contribution to contemporary art.

She studied at the Carlisle College of Art in Brampton Road - now the university's Stanwix site - from 1957 to 1961 before she joined the Royal Academy Schools in London where she remembers being "the only girl" in the painting section.

Margaret went on to graduate from the Perugia Fine Arts Academy in Italy in 1965.

Five years later she was one of the founders of the London Women’s Liberation Art Group.

A 1971 exhibition of her work that was closed by the police included a piece depicting the playboy, Hugh Hefner, as a Bunny Girl.

The award-winning artist has worked in the United States and England over the years and exhibited in a number of countries.

For 30 years, between 1977 and 2007, Margaret served as a senior research professor and director of the social and environmental art research centre at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Her latest exhibition opened in Bilbao, Spain last month and runs until January.

City squash coach Paul Bell was also made an honorary fellow this week.