Birthday girl set to be angel of the south; Student will stand on plinth in name of art.

Byline: Tom Mullen

A NORTHUMBERLAND student will celebrate her birthday with the eyes of the nation upon her.

For Heather Pringle will be hosting a party-for-one atop the famous empty plinth of Trafalgar Square.

The fine art student from Allendale is one of the lucky to be part of Angel of the North creator Antony Gormley's latest high-profile artwork.

And Heather said she would celebrate her 20th birthday with her appearance on the plinth.

The project, called One and Other, will see a further 615 people climbing the huge structure as part of the artist's quirky concept next month.

Each participant, chosen at random by a computer, will be allocated an hour to bring a constantly-changing creative twist to the piece.

Heather, one of the first participants to be announced, said: "I just entered on a whim really. And the fact it turns out it's my birthday was just coincidence really, so that's where the idea came from.

"I'm taking a few people down there with some champagne and a birthday cake. They'll be singing me happy birthday.

"The only thing was my family were a bit worried I was going to do it naked, like one of Anthony Gormley's other artworks.

I could do it in my birthday suit I suppose, but I don't think so." The participants can do anything they want on the plinth - from performances to miming, dancing to putting on stand-up comedy - provided they remain within the law.

Other participants include a hospital porter who plans to hold up a large cut-out photograph of his late father, a designer from London who will pedal a folding pink bicycle to generate the energy to light up a specially created suit he will be wearing and a scientist who will dress up as a fish to highlight the dangers of over-fishing.

The statues will begin their performances in July, with more to be announced for the month of August.

Further applications will be accepted until September 1, when the last group of people are chosen.

The project will see 2,400 people taking part, selected through a system of proportional representation to include people from across the UK.

On Thursday, Westminster Council granted planning permission for Mr Gormley's project, which is expected to draw spectators and art buffs from around the globe. And for those who do not have chance to make it to London from the North East, the One and Other will be televised via a live internet feed.

Sky Arts will begin broadcasting from the plinth on July 6 at 8.30am, broadcasting a 24hr feed on www.oneandother.

co.uk. A weekly programme will also go out on Fridays at 7pm from July 10 on Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD..I'm taking a few people down there with some champagne and a birthday cake

CAPTION(S):

WORK OF ART Heather Pringle from Hexham will be among the first of 615 people chosen to occupy Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth, left, and will celebrate her 20th birthday on top of it.