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London terror attacks inspires artist

A policeman in a bright florescent yellow jacket is a muse for artist Linda Austin.

The increase in surveillance as we go about our everyday lives, especially since the 7/7 attacks in London, may make some feel safe and others may feel uncomfortable that their movements are monitored.

Linda Austin, of Money Lane, West Drayton, says her latest show, "Undercover – tracing the lines" at the Beldam Gallery at Brunel University, Uxbridge, "has grown over the last 18 months from my thoughts around our lack of knowledge of information that is held on us and about us."

Linda is Course Team Leader for Teacher Education at Uxbridge College; she also teaches painting, drawing and mixed media at the Brunel Arts, at Brunel University, which are open to the public, as well as Summer Schools at Brunel for gifted and talented "A" Level students.

She studied at Central St Martin's College of Art and at Reading University, and has recently gained a post-graduate certificate in Computer Arts. She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in London, South-East England and Spain.
"Our lack of awareness means that we freely give information about ourselves wherever we go, now," Linda says. "There are two sides to this, of course, without the monitoring of our movements and our identities, we would not have the kind of protection that we also seek."

She declares a personal interest in the subject ---- her partner, Stephen Garner works as a train operator, and she is the mother of a grown-up son and daughter.

"I hope that visitors to my exhibition will discover things for themselves within the work that they can take away and think about on a personal level."

"Undercover – tracing the lines" at the Beldam Gallery, Wilfred Brown Building, Brunel University, Cleveland Road, Uxbridge UB8 3PH. January 16- February 17 2006; Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Admission free

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