The photographs were part of the ‘Newport Survey,’ a documentary photography project by students.

Each year, students were assigned different topics, such as education, religion, family, and industry, and tasked with capturing city life in relation to their topic.

Members of a choir rehearse a Welsh song for the Eisteddfodd in 1988(Image: NQ Archive)

The culmination of their work resulted in a book of the Newport Survey, published annually and unveiled at Newport Art Gallery, John Frost Square.

This book contained a series of photographic essays.

Anward Shahid and her family featured in the Newport Survey 1980(Image: NQ Archive)

In 2011, a series of these pictures was published as part of a project by university tutors.

Document photography senior lecturer Paul Reas, who was a student on the course during the 1980s, appealed for people in the photographs to join them at the exhibition.

Men getting the hairstyle of the day in 1982(Image: NQ Archive)

He said at the time: “The Newport Survey was and is a unique thing.

“It’s a historical document and shows how life has changed since the 1980s.

“The people in the photographs potentially have some lovely stories to tell.”

Check out some of our favourite images capturing life in Newport in the 1980s below.

Members of Newport’s Youth Council preparing for a sponsored push in 1982(Image: NQ Archive)

Prize winning students prepare for their first prize at Trevethin School’s Speech Day 1982(Image: NQ Archive)

Young and old characters coming together in John Frost Square 1982(Image: NQ Archive)

A gardening enthusiast dressing a chrysanthemum to enhance the shape of the bloom in 1985(Image: NQ Archive)

A female body builder, which was described as the ‘latest craze’ for women in 1985(Image: NQ Archive)

A man with his exotic pets in Newport 1985(Image: NQ Archive)

Rogation Sunday – it is tradition to bless the fields but in Pill the waters are blessed it is dockland in 1980(Image: NQ Archive)

Family watching ‘the box’ strengthened by the advent of teletext video recorders and home computers in 1985(Image: NQ Archive)

The male voice choir practising in November 1985(Image: NQ Archive)