A PRESTIGIOUS private school has launched two art scholarships in honour of a former student who died from epilepsy.

Richard Nieper, a furniture designer, passed away from Sudden Death from Epilepsy in 2012, aged just 42.

Malvern College has now set up scholarships in memory of the alumnus, who explored his love of painting and drawing at the school.

His sister Juliet Stocks said: "Richard was a superb artist, a creative thinker and incredibly talented from early childhood.

"He suffered from asthma so art was always his great love.

"By the time he got to the sixth form at Malvern, the art school and woodworking department were his second home as Malvern’s art and design was - and is - really advanced, offering photography, design and allowing him to do abstracts, life drawings and very large-scale paintings.

"By the age of 17 he’d amassed an extraordinary portfolio."

The Nieper family, who run a clothing business, are now sponsoring two art scholarships for the school's sixth form every year.

Mrs Stocks added: "Malvern College and its inspirational art teachers had been a crucial part of his development, giving him great artistic opportunities, so we really wanted to allow other gifted artists who could not otherwise have gone to Malvern, to get the same chance as Richard.”

Mr Nieper, who later studied at Central Saint Martins art school, had his first epileptic seizure at the age of 12.

Mrs Stocks added: "He would endure the fits and pick himself up again afterwards.

"He invariably made light of it and told a funny story about it, rather than saying “Why me?

"During his last Christmas he was in wonderful form and hadn’t had a fit for two years.

"Then at New Year, he went back to his flat alone – and simply died there of an unexplained condition called SUDEP – Sudden Death from Epilepsy.

"It was horrible. There was no warning and suddenly he wasn’t there anymore."

Christine Prichard, the head of art at Malvern College, said: "We’re thrilled that the Nieper family has generously established these wonderful new scholarships in memory of Richard.

"I know they will enhance our already strong reputation in art and design and attract many more talented, budding artists to Malvern.”

The new awards were set up in the run-up to National Epilepsy Week, which started on May 22.

Malvern College is still taking applications for this year’s awards, for September 2018.

For further details contact registrar@malverncollege.org.uk or ring 01684 581515.