LONDON British poet and painter Adrian Henri, who made his name in the 1960s as one of the "Liverpool poets", has died aged 68 following a long illness, the City Council said. Drawing much of his inspiration from his home city, Henri was part of a trio of poets -- along with Roger McGough and Brian Patten -- whose depiction of popular culture in verse helped make poetry fashionable among 1960s youth. On Wednesday night, before news of his death, he was awarded the Freedom of the City, an honorary title to recognize his contribution to Liverpool's cultural scene. Describing him as a "key part of Liverpool's first cultural revolution in the 1960s", Liverpool City Council said: "Henri made a singular contribution to the lifeblood of the city. He was a creative force in Merseyside for more than 40 years." On Monday, the poet received an honorary degree from Liverpool University. Henri's career spanned everything from artist and poet to teacher, rock and roll performer, playwright and librettist. In an interview with the Times newspaper in January he described his early philosophy as "If you think you can do it and you want to do it -- then do it". Unlike McGough and Patten, Henri chose to remain in Liverpool, turning his back on the trendier London scene and saying there was nowhere he loved better. He studied art in Newcastle, later going on to lecture in art at both Manchester and Liverpool colleges of art. He was president of the Merseyside Arts Association and Liverpool Academy of the Arts in the 1970s and was made an honorary professor of the city's John Moores University earlier this year. (Reuter)