How people earn their crust is the thrust behind a new multi-media exhibition at The Gallery in Willesden Green.

Debut curator Mary Parham gave a brief - Working London, the title of the show, which opens this evening (Thursday) - to the contributors and left them to their own devices for eight months.

The result is four contrasting collections, including pictures by Iceland-born photographer Maria Kjartansdottir and two video installations of 20 minutes and five minutes by Nicky Larkin. A film and complimentary digital prints by Paul King, and images from digital artist Lee Marshall, occupy the final two walls.

Mary, 23, says: "There's lots of different interpretations - they've all come up with a different approach.

"The artists didn't contact each other so you've got completely separate communications."

She adds: "The theme of work is very effective for the exhibition because everyone works and so can relate to the artwork.

"People will leave the gallery either feeling quite miserable about their job or feeling happy that their job isn't as bad as others'.

"Some of the stuff is quite funny. Paul's piece on office working, the one most people will probably relate to, is a comic and very cynical look at his main job."

Between the four artists' work are humorous, sad and surprising narratives and notions of what people in our city do for a living. Ian Proctor

* Working London can be viewed for free at The Gallery in Willesden, High Road, Willesden, between 2pm and 6pm every day until Sunday, August 31.