A former Medway art student braved a TV showdown with Britain’s top business brains to scoop thousands of pounds of funding.

Guy Portelli picked up £80,000 after appearing on the hit show Dragon’s Den.

The 51-year-old sculptor, who attended Medway College of Art, Rochester, secured the funding for a 25 per cent stake in his Pop Icon collection.

The collection features busts of popular performers including John Lennon, Amy Winehouse and Bob Marley.

Venture capitalists Theo Paphitis, Peter Jones, and James Caan agreed to split the investment to help Mr Portelli exhibit his work at the prestgious Mall Galleries in London next year.

In return they will earn a cut of profits from the sale of the pieces, which are expected to reach at least £1 million.

Speaking on the show Mr Portelli, from Tonbridge, said: “My work is about creating an identity which relates to youth culture and fashion.”

Previous items from the collection have fetched as much as £36,000.

Medway College of Art, now the University for Creative Arts, has a distinguished alumni.

As well as Mr Portelli, other successful former students include fashion designers Karen Millen and Zandra Rhodes.