UGLY experiences were used as inspiration for beautiful artwork for an exhibition and auction in aid of victims of domestic violence.

Trivial Feminine Pursuits is a collection of paintings and sculptures by eight abused women and four young people who had either committed violent crimes or been victims of violence themselves.

The work will be sold at an auction at Ruskin College in Walton Street today between 7pm and 9pm, with proceeds going to Oxfordshire Women's Aid. It will also be on display at the college until December 23.

Clair Aldington came up with the idea with journalist Stephen Fontaine as part of their Mudskipping Mediarts initiative, which was also behind the Oxfordshire Ball football tournament.

Ms Aldington, the creative arts development officer for Oxfordshire and Berkshire youth offending team, visited refuges in Oxfordshire to work with the women.

She said: "As an artist I love working with vulnerable groups.

"Art is a really wonderful way to express things that they might find hard to articulate verbally, especially really personal issues like domestic violence and abuse."

One of the women who took part, who calls herself Elizabeth, 28, was stalked by her partner across Europe for three years.

She said: "I found painting very therapeutic. I wanted to do the workshops continuously."

Mr Fontaine said: "We came up with the idea after organising the Oxfordshire Ball.

"Some of the women in the refuge asked if they could do anything else to help.

"I thought maybe they could work with Clair to do some art, which we could auction for Women's Aid."

The workshops were funded by Thames Valley Partnership, while the young people took part under court orders for reparation for their crimes.

The auction and exhibition ties in with White Ribbon Day today, an international day of awareness about domestic violence.

Prof Audrey Mullender, principal of Ruskin College, said: "At Ruskin, courses such as Women's Studies, Social Work and Youth and Community Work relate particularly closely to this event so it is a particular pleasure to be able to provide this practical token of our support."