A FORMER Clacton school arts teacher has been reunited with a self-portrait masterpiece after it was unearthed in a mystery golf club discovery.

The painting of one-time Clacton County High School arts and drama teacher Ken Smith was found in storage at Clacton Golf Club recently – but no one knows how it got there.

A club member and former pupil recognised the painting and returned it to the school.

Mr Smith, who left County High in 1984 and is now aged 94, visited the school again last week and was reunited with the painting.

Executive headteacher Jeff Brindle said: “It turns out the painting was a selfportrait which was adapted a few years after it was first painted for use in a drama production directed by Mr Smith.

“There the trail goes cold until the picture surfaced at the golf club a few weeks ago. It is a mystery.”