Danny Smith is 32 and, like anyone his age, he likes to go out with his friends and socialise over a beer.

But Danny has Down's Syndrome and sometimes when he goes out, he gets funny looks. He said: "People say to me, 'I thought you're not supposed to drink'. I say to them: 'Can you please stop telling me what to do. It's my life, and I can have a drink, so don't tell me I can't'."

His experience is typical of those which people with learning disabilities have to deal with on a daily basis, and one that is covered by an exhibition in Oxford.

Hidden Faces is a series of short films and artwork created by people with severe learning disabilities. It marks the culmination of almost a year's work for Oxford Film and Video Makers (OVFM), who have been working on the project as part of the Oxfordshire 2007 celebrations.

More than 30 people from around the county took part in the project, which is part of the Faces of Oxfordshire initiative and aims to shed light on the lives of people with learning disabilities within the community.

Hundreds of people turned out last Friday evening for a preview, ahead of the exhibition at the Ovada Gallery, in Gloucester Green, Oxford.

Richard Duriez, from OVFM, said the exhibition aimed to highlight how people with learning disabilities perceived themselves, and was deisgned to give them a voice in the community.

He said: "People need to realise they have the same interests and obsessions as people without a learning disability.

"They want to talk about football, about the music they like, their hobbies, their friends and family or religion. They often feel that they are not seen as 'normal' people with normal interests. This exhibition shows that they are."

Ali Palmer-Smith, from Oxford, said the use of film and video was a great way for people like Danny to tell their story.

Mrs Palmer-Smith, 53, said: "The more people understand they can use the medium of film the better.

"It's a great way for those that can't read or write, like Danny, to tell their story or to be creative."

Video artist Chris Oakley, said he had been amazed at some of the final results.

He said: "I wasn't sure at the outset what we would end up with, but I've been quite amazed at some of these very personal visions that we've got.

"More than anything else, it's been great to see the things that people think are significant to their lives."

He also said he had been surprised by some of the humour in the films, with "one or two very strong gags" thrown in.

Donna Ward, Oxford and Kidlington manager for supported living service for Mencap, said the project had been a great way to improve the social inclusion of people with learning disabilities.

Miss Ward said people who did not know anyone with a disability might be surprised by the work, and added: "It's wonderful for people to see that people with learning disabilities do get out and have a life."