A Hornchurch artist has held his first solo exhibition at Romford Shopping Hall, Romford Market.

Joshua Law’s Mixed Messages used collages of news headlines and magazine images to explore the mass media, world news and celebrity.

The 24-year-old Havering College student is about to graduate with a BA in Fine Art.

He said: “We live in a world of mass media and if you look at the front of a newspaper, so many different things are being thrown at you all at once.

“People will see some things on a page, like a topless man, and ignore others because they are drawn to what they find visually pleasing. The collages don’t mean anything on their own – it’s for the viewer to decide. I want to make society engage with art.”

Joshua said he has been contacted by people inspired by the exhibition.

He said: “I’m really chuffed that people responded. As an artist, if one person engages with what I’ve done, I’ve done my job.”

Joshua is working towards his dream with another exhibition planned in Hoxton and galleries interested in his work.

He said: “It’s all kicking off, which is a bit nerve-wracking, but I’m excited. The art scene in Havering is starting to get noticed and there’s some great things going on.”

Mixed Messages ran from May 30 to June 6 with 60 collages for the Jubilee year. The display was part of the Romford Contemporary Arts programme, funded by Havering Council.