The 160th anniversary of St Albans’ leading local newspaper was the theme of an exhibition by art, fashion and design students from Oaklands College.

The students were commissioned to create pieces in line with a live brief from the Herts Advertiser to celebrate the paper’s milestone birthday, and the best work was displayed at St Albans Cathedral over the weekend.

All artwork was judged at a recent private view by Herts Ad editor Matt Adams, Oaklands’ head of art, fashion and design Mike La Traille and local graphic designer Mike Higgs.

The first prize went to Sinead Sullivan for her ceramic milk bottles that represented young dairymen from Heath Farm who were called up to fight during World War I and never returned.

“The ceramic milk bottles are intended to act as a metaphor to symbolise the men at war, standing aligned and regimental, with few broken, acting as a reference to fallen soldiers. I wanted to portray the struggle of the women left behind as well as the men sent off to war with this piece.” said Sinead, 19, from St Albans.

The second prize went to Luke Perkins for his piece ‘Abbey’ and the third prize was awarded to Billie Thornton for her piece ‘News Doesn’t Grow on Trees.’

Oaklands principal Zoe Hancock said: “Our students were delighted to be able to create pieces in line with a live brief, as they would if they were working with real clients, and show their work in such a grand setting. It was a pleasure to work with the Herts Advertiser to celebrate such an important milestone.”