Southampton's celebrated figures shown in portrait exhibition

Edward John Smith, Captain of the Titanic, which slipped its moorings from the city for its maiden voyage in April 1912

Portraits of celebrated figures who have links to Southampton are being shown in a new exhibition in the city.

The exhibition includes Jane Austen, Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell, Titanic's captain Edward John Smith, Craig David and Paralympic athlete Aaron Phipps.

It features more than 40 works from the National Portrait Gallery with portraits from the city's collections.

Creative Connections, at the City Art Gallery, runs at until 30 September.

Former GB wheelchair rugby player Aaron Phipps who was born in Totton in Southampton

New portraits in charcoal have been created by GCSE art students from Cantell School with local artist Pete Codling.

The portraits, which capture people the students chose to represent the city, will be displayed alongside the collections from both galleries.

Pete Codling, said: "Their choices for the exhibition have been enlightening, from the humble and heroic to the unsung and most deserving."

Freda Dudley Ward, mistress of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, who was married to Southampton MP William Dudley Ward

Others in the exhibition include the city's first female mayor Lucia Foster Welch, TV presenter Chris Packham and former Southampton striker Alan Shearer.

A series of free arts and history workshops, talks and tours are set to run alongside the exhibition.

Craig David was born in 1981 and grew up in the Holyrood housing estate in central Southampton.

It brings together the collections of the National Portrait Gallery and Southampton City Art Gallery and Museums.

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery tells the story of Britain through portraits.