Young people were praised for their hard work as their art project celebrating what Sheppey means to them was unveiled.

A dozen 16- to 24-year-olds, who are not in education, employment or training, or had some form of disability, spent six weeks using different techniques to decorate letters spelling out “The Isle of Sheppey”.

They were displayed at the Sheppey Gateway in Sheerness High Street on Friday so visitors could see the various designs, which each cover a different aspect of the Island.

A printed panel based on the sculpture, hung on the rear wall of the Times Guardian offices and visible from the council building, was unveiled by Mayor of Swale Cllr George Bobbin and mayoress Brenda Bobbin.

Tori Hunter, from Sheerness, was one of the young people who worked on the Blank Canvas project.

The 21-year-old, who hopes to become a youth worker, has been doing art for about a year and got involved after a friend brought it to her attention on Facebook.

She said: “I feel like I’m more confident and I have a clear future ahead and I know what I want to do and I know how to get there now.”

Alan Abbey’s daughter Vic Higgin-Abbey, who suffers from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, worked on one of the Hs in the sculpture and made intricate drawings of Henry VIII and Queen Sexburga using an electronic tablet device.

Mr Abbey said the project was the first time in five years his 19-year-old daughter, from Minster, has been able to get out and socialise.

He said: “Vic has been disabled for some years and fell between the gaps of most things and has been very isolated. She didn’t really know what was open to her and [art] is something she’s really considering. She finds what she gets out of it is a social side and feeling positive about herself.”

The Blank Canvas Project received funding from Kent County Council and Swale council.

Jane Barber, from KCC’s early help and preventative services, said: “It’s a community project and it feels generally like the whole community has been involved.”

The project was led by Justin Aggett, of Sheppey Matters, and supported by Sarah-Jane Radley, of the Sheppey Gateway.