World-famous fashion illustrator Hayden Williams has gone back to Barking and Dagenham College, where he was a student ten years ago.

The 33-year-old met today’s students and teachers and recorded a podcast with them about his time learning his craft.

“The college was my first time studying fashion from scratch,” Hayden recalled. “I learned how to sew, cut patterns and everything in between.”

Yet it was tough getting through the course, he remembers.

“My tutor got me to focus on aspects I wasn’t confident in,” Hayden explained. “But I felt more prepared and ready for a career in fashion by the time I left.”

Lecturer Kayla Hassan, 23, was completely unaware that her design idol was a former college student.

She had been following his career and even has a tattoo on her arm of the famous illustration of pop megastar Rihanna that set off his career.

Kayla told him: “I didn’t even know that you came to this college. I’ve always loved your work.”

Hayden has more than one million followers on Instagram and is now one of the most recognised fashion illustrators worldwide.

He began drawing at the age of three growing up in Loughton and would frequently sketch Disney characters, using Barbie dolls as inspiration.

He went on to enrol on a BTEC fashion design course in his 20s at the Rush Green campus in 2008.

Hayden put his illustrations on social media when singer Rihanna spotted his drawing of her on Twitter.

His work has been recognised since by Oprah and Beyonce. He has also worked with Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and for Disney with his modern interpretation of Cinderella’s gown.

His sketches have been turned into real outfits with showbiz stars wearing his designs on stage and TV, such as Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Jourdan Dunn.

Hayden is returning to the college again in February as a guest at its annual skills show.

He has been working meanwhile on “some top secret designs” for well-known celebrities for Halloween.