WORK by a Batley student is to feature on the cover of a new classic novel.

Mel Spencer, a third-year BA (honours) contemporary photographic arts student at Batley School of Art and Design, has won this year's annual Guardian Review Student Competition.

The contest's brief was to submit an original photo which, if picked, would be turned into the cover of a new Penguin Classic.

The review board was looking for images that captured the essence of four books in an interesting, intelligent way.

The novels chosen were Hells Angels by Hunter S Thompson; Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky; Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf; and The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

Mel, who is a mature student, has also studied photography and graphics at Keighley College and Middlesbrough College of Art and Design.

She has a freelance background in photography and editorial for a range of motorbike publications.

They provided her inspiration for the cover of Hell's Angels, Thompson's account of a cross-US road trip he took with American bikers in the 1960s.

Mel's image was picked for the cover of Thompson's tale by the judging panel.

The panel included acclaimed photographer David Bailey, Guardian Review editor Annalena McAfee, Penguin managing director Stefan McGrath, Penguin art director Jim Stoddart, Penguin Classics publisher Adam Freudenheim and author Ian Sinclair.

Sinclair, a former teacher, said of Mel's cover image: "Nothing else had the same punch."

As first prize winner, she received a £450 Nikon professional digital camera.

She said: "I'm proud to have my work on the cover of a Penguin Classic.

"Hell's Angels was perfect subject matter for me.

"My inspiration was my love of bikes.

"The judges must have felt that when looking at my work and that's why they picked it.

"My tutors and fellow students have given me support, encouragement and invaluable experience.

"I'm looking forward to completing my degree and moving on in industry."