A CONTROVERSIAL art exhibition in Oxford is to include paintings showing Princess Diana's death crash and the faces of five murdered prostitutes.

Next month, Modern Art Oxford in Pembroke Street will present the first major UK exhibition of work by artist Stella Vine.

The exhibition, which opens on July 17, will feature Ms Vine's most controversial works including paintings of Princess Diana - including previously unseen paintings of the infamous Paris car crash and her as a young child and a teenager.

Other new works include a suite of five paintings depicting the prostitutes murdered in Ipswich last year.

Ms Vine said: "I'm delighted to be showing the whole range of my work in Oxford.

"I don't think anyone will really be upset by what they see.

"The Diana crash painting only shows the wreck with men around it.

"It's an iconic image.

"I'm not interested in being a shocking artist and I'm not remotely interested in being a celebrity myself.

"All my works have integrity and make a connection with my imagination - it's really all autobiography."

Andrew Nairne, director of Modern Art Oxford, said: "Stella's work is fresh, bold and original and deserves to reach a wider audience.

"Modern Art Oxford has a long tradition of recognising and supporting new talent.

"We are delighted to be working with Stella on her first major exhibition.

"Stella is a fearless artist because she is prepared to paint anyone.

"She has her own poetic way of empathising with the person.

"She has usually never met them but she has a sense of who they are.

"Her paintings are funny and shocking and will appeal to a wide range of people."

Ms Vine's work first became well known in 2004, when a portrait of heroin victim Rachel Whitear was bought by Charles Saatchi.

The exhibition is expected to include more than 100 paintings from the beginning of her career to the present day.