A RAMSBOTTOM mum has drawn on her emotional experiences of domestic violence to create an art exhibition to highlight the subjugation of women.

Allison English, 38, created a dress made entirely from materials that are found around the home including washing up gloves, dusters and pan scrubbers as part of her final project for her degree.

The former hairdresser who grew up in Ramsbottom is doing a degree in Fine Art at University Centre at Blackburn College.

The dress was part of a showcase put on by the college in Blackburn.

She said: "The topic is really close to my heart as I drew on my own experiences of being mistreated to create a piece which embodies the way that women have been subjugated throughout the centuries.

"I modelled the corset on myself using modrock as a way of showing the constraints of being a woman, and then made the dress from materials normally just found around the home."

Ms English is now hoping to do a PGCE at University Centre at Blackburn College, with the hope of becoming an art teacher.

She added: "When I was working as a hairdresser I knew that I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t know exactly what it was I wanted to do.

"By chance I met a woman who had been on the course before me and I was in awe of her when she told me what she had been doing. I was so pleased when I found out that I had a place at college that I cried.

"Applying for the course has been the best decision that I’ve made – I can’t wait to take my next step towards a career in teaching!"

John Harrison, head of school of art and society, said the students had done fantastically well to pull off a great show.

"Quite a few of the students have responded particularly well to the challenges of exhibiting across three town Centre locations. I’m extremely proud of them.

"The Art and Design degree show has always provided a forum for top creative businesses to reach out to new talent and future employees – many University Centre graduates meet their future employers through the show.

"For creative businesses, the show offers a first-hand glimpse of the creative talent available locally.

"It's events like these that help ensure nine out of 10 of our graduates are in work or further study just six months after graduation."