Students shine at Cathedral exhibition

Talented Art, Fashion and Design students gathered at St Albans Cathedral to show their work at the opening of an exhibition on Thursday. 

The students were commissioned to create pieces in line with a live brief from the Herts Advertiser to celebrate the paper’s 160th birthday. 

All artwork was judged at a private view on Thursday night by editor of the Herts Advertiser Matt Adams, Oaklands’ Head of Art, Fashion & 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.”