March 26, 2001 20:02: Would you be surprised to see your face in a work of art?

Not if you contributed your picture to the Portrait Of The Nation by David Mach.

More than 250,000 photographs were submitted by people across Britain to make the 30m-long, giant collage.

The images of people at work, rest and play, are set against a seamless backdrop of beautiful landscapes, cities, towns, rivers, coastlines, mountains and industrial sites.

The artist described the piece as "an epic work on the scale of a Cecil B de Mille movie".

During the next 12 months you can view the portrait as it makes a tour of shopping centres and public spaces round the country.

First stop is Bluewater shopping centre, where the picture will be on display from Friday, April 6, to Thursday, April 12.

Mach was commissioned by Marks & Spencer to create the piece and after the tour it will be given to the nation and placed on permanent display.

For more information check www2.marksandspencer.com/portrait/ or call 0870 3330102.

Tracey Wye