In pictures: Costume designs for John Gielgud's Hamlet and more

To celebrate Shakespeare's 400 year legacy, the University of the Arts London have released an original costume design for John Gielgud's famous 1944 portrayal of Hamlet at the Theatre Royal London, as well as other rarely seen Shakespearian costume designs from the WWII era.

The original watercolour sketches – which are held by UAL at the Central Saint Martins museum – feature some of the Bard's most famous characters including Romeo, Richard III and Claudius.

All the sketches are by costume designer Jeanetta Cochrane who studied at Central Saint Martins in 1914 and went on to teach at the art school until her death in 1957.

UAL students are engaging with the designs by showcasing their work alongside the archive to highlight how Shakespearian costume design has evolved.

Judy Willcocks, head of Central Saint Martins Museum said: "Jeanetta Cochrane was a real inspiration. These beautiful Shakespeare costume designs show her desire for greater historical accuracy in theatrical costume. I'm delighted they are now curated online for everyone to see so her creativity and memory can live on."

Head to our dedicated Shakespeare page for everything you need to know about Shakespeare 400