Florence Welch, the stunning frontwoman  of the electrifying Florence and The Machine, made a surprise appearance at Camberwell College of Arts last night to open the summer degree show.  The singer and style icon studied Foundation Art and Design at the art school in 2006, where she specialising in painting.

Kicking off proceedings at the College’s undergraduate summer show last night she said “It’s a real honour to be back and see familiar faces…I had a really good time here and met some amazing people.” She  revealed that she had worked out that if she had stayed on this would have been her graduating year and perhaps she should hand in her album as her final project.

The South London chanteuse, who grew up in Camberwell, embarked on her meteoritic rise to stardom shortly after leaving the College in 2007.  She has since gone on to achieve a platinum selling debut album, Lungs, and has won a host of awards including the 2010 BRIT MasterCard British Album of the Year and a much coveted Mercury nomination in 2009.

The star joined artists, friends, family and art collectors taking in a preview of the very best emerging talent at this year’s summer shows which run the the range from  ceramics, drawing, illustration, painting, sculpture and conservation to  graphics,  3D design and photography.

Camberwell’s summer degree show runs 22-26 June. Find all the dates and times here.

Browse shots of the night on Flickr.