THEY’RE FAMOUS across London for their striking black and white costumes, decorated with pearls, but now the pearly kings and queens have come to Newport, in the form of a SuperDragon.

The Pearly Dragon King was created by Sarah White, 42, from Abertillery, who runs the coffee shop based at Barnabas Arts House in Newport.

Mrs White used to live across London including Kentish Town, Lambeth and Highbury where she used to see the borough’s pearly kings and queens out and about.

Mrs White, who is a keen artist in her spare time, thought the design would be both striking and different, but also would get people interested in the story behind the pearly kings and queens.

"The first pearly king was an orphan called Henry Croft in 1875," Mrs White explains. "He used to collect money for charity and to draw attention to himself he started stitching more and more pearl buttons on to his suits to stand out."

Mrs White’s dragon has 4,000 of the buttons lovingly glued on but says it took its toll on her back!

"I would like it to educate people but also I think it is striking, quite an imposing, grown up dragon which is a bit different. It has scared a few of the children."

Like most of the artists involved, Mrs White is quick (and unprompted) to highlight the fun and friendship she has found from the project, and the fun she hopes the dragon’s bring to the city.

"The camaraderie among the artists making them and seeing all the creativity it has been great fun and people really seem to respond to them. They love them."