Tracey Emin has snapped up a former mortuary and Victorian bath house in Margate and plans to turn the site into an art school and mini museum.

The famous artist, who lives in the town, is set to convert the former Little Learners Nursery and East Kent ITeC computer training college on the corner of Dane Road and Victoria Road.

The 58-year-old also plans to transform a building at the same site into 30 artists' studios.

She told The Times: "People will have to apply, and there’ll be really strict rules. No sub-letting, no smoking, no loud music. And if people don’t want to do the rules then they won’t have a studio there.

"The other thing, because the rents are going to be so low, I’m not having people having part-time jobs and then never coming in.

"So, I’m setting it up so they . . . will have time to work and paint."

She told how it will be named called TKE Studios, the initials of her full name Tracey Karima Emin.

The Times reported how a mortuary on the site will be converted into a "mini museum" with her own work in.

It was revealed she had only heard about the compound a month ago and bought it as soon as possible.

Ms Emin will also launch an artist’s residency scheme at another location to encourage artists to move to Margate - where she was raised.

She said: “So it’s organically making the place right for the right people. I love art. And I love property. And this way I’m combining both my loves and doing a bit of good.

“You know in life you sort of amble around, and you don’t know what you’re doing, but you know you’re doing something? And then suddenly you see the light.

"You go, ‘Oh my God, that’s what I’m doing!’ Well, with Margate now, especially after the cancer and everything, it’s all making sense what I’m doing. I am sort of helping. I am making an artist’s haven."

Ms Emin has already converted the former Thanet Press site in Union Crescent into an artist studio and accommodation.

She recently moved back from London to Margate where she has remained ever since after growing up in the area.

The artist revealed in 2020 she was in remission of cancer after undergoing surgery.

It came after she felt pain in her bladder – which was later found to be caused by a tumour – when she was working on a picture of a malignant lump.

"The picture is exactly the same as my bladder with the tumor in it, before I knew I had the cancer – it’s brilliant," the 57-year-old told Artnet.

The artist, who is best known for her pieces My Bed and Everyone I Have Ever Slept With, has recently said she has been given the all-clear.

Ms Emin is also understood to have bought The Brown Jug pub in Broadstairs.