KETNA Patel, an award-winning British Indian artist based in Singapore, is returning to her former home of Stanmore to exhibit her work at the Travellers Studio in the Harrow Arts Centre, Uxbridge Road, Hatch End.

This is her first exhibition in London, entitled Tears of Milk, after one of Ketna's award-winning creations.

It runs from tomorrow (Friday) until Sunday, and features a collection of some of the paintings and photo collage works that emerged out of her experiences of travelling around the world.

Ketna grew up in Kenya but lived in Stanmore for several years before moving to Singapore.

She is qualified as an architect but left the profession after two years because she found it "too limiting: clamping down on my creative will".

"I was buying into the idea that I could change the world," she explained.

"But then I realised it involved always surrendering to the people with lots of money."

Teaming up with her partner, musician and artist Jonathan Reading, she set up an artists' co-operative called UTU Artworks in 1997 and have since undertaken numerous projects.

She was presented with the Juror's Choice Award at the Asean Art Awards for her painting, Tears of Milk, in 2002.

For the past year, they have travelled the world, visiting many countries including the USA, Jamaica, Italy, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Finland, to provide inspiration and material for their art.

Either renting studio space or living with local families, Ketna used the time to experience the cultures of different countries.

"Through my art, I am interested in being a bridge between the first world and the third world," she said.

"Because of my background, I don't really belong anywhere.

"It makes me maybe more appreciative of the disparities and differences between the two worlds."

Ketna's work, which has been described as "Bollywood meets pop art", is exhibited alongside lectures, slide shows and musical performances which capture the different cultures of the countries she has explored.

Ketna Patel's Tears of Milk exhibition opens at the Travellers Studio on Friday, February 6 from 8pm until 10pm.

On Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8, it is open from 10am until 10pm.

For more information, visit www.ketnapatel.com or phone the Arts Centre box office on 020 8428 0124.