A CREATIVE university student has swapped lectures for a historic windswept West Yorkshire tale.
Textiles student Charlotte Aspin created the costumes for new art novel The Last Coiner as part of her final year's work at Huddersfield University.
The book, which is created from digitally-manipulated photographic images, is a fictional tale based on the story of the Cragg Vale coiners.
In the 18th century a group of farmers and tradesmen began making fake currency in the remote Cragg Vale in Calderdale.
The authorities eventually caught up with them and most of the main protagonists were hung.
The new book is the brainchild of Bradford-born writer and director Peter Kershaw.
He said: "It's a publication which will appeal to all ages, including a younger audience who are not traditionally interested in historical subjects.
"It depicts the barren and often brutal world that was Yorkshire at the time in a way which will appeal to modern audiences."
The Last Coiner, which was funded by the Arts Council England, tells the story of a pair of brothers who begin counterfeiting - but soon attract the unwanted attention of the authorities.
About 40 actors and students from across the region were used to create the atmospheric photgraphs in the novel including Clementina Herrero and David and Olivia Fearn, 13 and nine respectively, from Huddersfield.
Professional actress Clementina, from Birkby, said despite it being photgraphs rather than film or on stage it was still a difficult task.
She added: "You still have to be in character.
"You can still see what someone is thinking even though they are still."
The publication of the book coincides with the news that the story has been backed by the prestigious European-funded programme Katapult to be turned into a screenplay.
Peter added: "The book will form the basis for the story's adaption into a film script and will help to convey the visual style.
"The Last Coiner will not look or feel like another British 'period' film.
"I see it as an undiscovered action-adventure tale, the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island or Kidnapped.
"Its look is inspired by the westerns of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood."
For more information go to www.thelastcoiner.com
