FINE art students will take over a city centre square when their work goes on show

The group of up and coming artists are Solent University fine art second year students - hoping to give Sotonians some food for thought with their outdoor exhibition.

With pieces ranging from a 'head in the clouds', to illustrations drawn onto bed sheets, the talented young people are busy installing their work into three shipping containers in Guildhall Square. And they're not shying away from the public.

Ashleigh Turner's brightly coloured paintings explore the issues faced by women who are said to be overweight. She will be hanging her work on the outside of the containers in a bid to "take up as much space as possible." She said: "I've been called every name under the sun. There isn't a joke about being fat that I haven't heard. So I try to incorporate humour into my work as well." She will also be letting the public "add" to her pieces as well in a bid to get them more involved with art.

With topics and materials ranging from fat-shaming to sculptures made from sugar, this year is thought to be the first time the annual show will be an all-female ensemble.

But student Lucy Marshall said: "It's quite a variety of themes and not especially female. We have quite a spread of masculinity in our personalities."

Lecturer Sarah Filmer said: "I'm really proud of the students this year."

The show - in three shipping containers on Guildhall Square - opens to the public on April 13 with a drinks reception from 6-8pm. It runs until April 18 from 12-6pm.