Who said art is stuffy and only for the initiated? If you fancy yourself as a bit of an art collector but get put off by its somewhat serious side, Natasha Laflin's work is for you.

Talented artist Natasha makes 3D metal wall sculptures that are quirky, funny snapshots of modern day life - a cowboy, a bit like Woody from Toy Story, stands by a petrol pump waiting for customers, or life inside a diner - a waitress chewing the fat with a local; a couple of charming examples.

Studying illustration at Camberwell College, Natasha became increasingly interested with working in 3D. It's interesting how often we end up carving a niche for ourselves doing something quite different from what we originally studied at college, often due to necessity. You'd expect an illustrator to go into books, magazines or something similar. However, Natasha started drawing on old lithographic plates. Gradually manipulating the material to produce cameo-type pieces, she has progressed into extruding her images into the 3D world the way a model-maker would make his models.

Having a baby in the final year of her degree meant Natasha needed to work from home for the first couple of years. She says this influenced what she made. "Working from home meant the things I made were restrictive in size. I had to make things that were quite small."

For inspiration, Natasha needed only to look out her window to supply her with enough material to last a lifetime. Making everyone green with envy, Natasha has the good fortune to live in Trellick Tower, making it the perfect vantage point to people watch the busy street below.

"I first started selling pieces in the shop Veranda off Portobello Road, they were great. People would come in and ask for requests and gradually I got commissions." Over time, the pieces requested became bigger.

In the mid nineties, a great bit of luck would happen. The old lost goods yard around the corner in Great Western Road was converted into studios. In 1995, Natasha moved into her own studio, which mean - freedom . to do whatever she wanted. And for more inspiration, Natasha now has a couple of studio-mates. Julie Goldsmith makes animal-like clay and metal sculptures, and Catherine Parkinson, who has been doing mosaics since 1992, uses hand chopped marble set in cement.

A wave of nostalgia passes over as you walk through the corridors of the Great Western Studios. It reminded the writer of the old days; back in her old art college! There's a caf? were neighbours sit and chat, or simply go to get a second opinion, maybe even a little divine inspiration. "There's a good support network here", says Natasha. Things are a little different now. The old lithographic plates are gone - "they're far too hard to resource. I use a great big role of metal now and cut off what I need." The bigger pieces are quite labour intensive. Every detail is cut, twisted and turned, then glued on. And that's not including the painting. A lot of care and thought are put into these pieces, and it shows.

As for future plans - well, Natasha hopes to do a collection with a theme. She would love to do life around London. Snippets of days gone by in the old-fashioned hairdressers, bars and barbers that still hang on in the face of the modern, young and trendy establishments popping up all over the place. But like any struggling artist, Natasha would be delighted if a sponsor fell into her lap.

Natasha Laflin's work has been exhibited across London, from restaurants like Cantaloupe to the Piers Feetham Gallery in Fulham. And of course the Great Western Studios have two annual open sessions.

This year's summer opening is the 2nd and 3rd of June, the winter opening is the first weekend in December.

You can find the studios down the long driveway to the side of the bus depot. Contact Great Western Studios on 020 7221 0100.

Mark your calendar; it's a fabulous place to visit. It's great for sorting out those awkward, hard to buy presents, or to buy some fabulous art for yourself. Miss it at your peril!

Natasha Laflin can be contacted on 07769 942 685.