Actress and former model Joanna Lumley of Ab Fab fame is taking centre stage in Maidstone Museum’s exhibition to celebrate its 150th birthday.

The actress features in a watercolour painted in 1968 by the late John Stanton Ward, who died in 2007.

The picture, in pencil and colour wash, shows Joanna at 22 years of age in a relaxed pose smoking a cigarette – perhaps an early indication of her future role as Ab Fab’s Patsy.

John Ward attended the Royal College of Art and was appointed CBE in 1985. He lived in Kent for most of his career and was well known as an illustrator and portrait painter. Among his sitters were Walter de la Mare, Elizabeth David, Princess Ann and Sir Roger Bannister.

Fiona Woolley, keeper of Fine Art at the museum said: “This is an early example of his watercolour work and provides us with a glimpse into 1960’s pop culture.

“The study was purchased by the Bentlif Trustees at a gallery sale in the late 1960s.

“It was brought out from the stores last year as part of a retrospective of Ward’s work held by Canterbury Museum and was shown alongside an oil portrait of Joanna Lumley.

“I would urge everyone to come along to see it while it is on display and be inspired by his free-fluid style.”

The piece forms part of the museum’s exciting Kaleidoscope exhibition: 150 years of colourful collection.