Sarah Cunningham [George Darrell, courtesy of Lisson Gallery]

FLOWERS were laid at Chalk Farm tube station this week after a talented artist was discovered on the tracks at the end of a tragic missing persons search. Sarah Cunningham, an internationally recognised artist who police said had links to Camden and Wandsworth, was described as a “force of nature” by her friends.

The New Journal understands from sources close to the investigation that the 31-year-old was seen on CCTV possibly walking into the tunnel southbound towards Camden Town after missing a train.

One potential line of the investigation is that she may have become disorientated and fallen in the tunnel before being hit by an oncoming train. Her death comes at a time when campaigners are calling for better safety measures to be put in place on the tube network to protect passengers from injuring themselves on the tracks.

Jo Dennis, an artist and close friend who met Ms Cunningham at the Royal College of Arts whilst they were both doing their master’s degree there told the New Journal: “She was sweet and generous, funny and kind. She is known for her paintings but she also wrote a lot of gorgeous poems.

“She was so bright. I’m so glad of the time I got to spend in her excellent company, many a time at the pub talking about life and art.”

Fran Copeman, another close friend, added: “She was a force of nature who cared deeply and was a really attentive friend who gave her time to you. “She wasn’t one for small talk. You can see it all in her work. She was completely dedicated to it.”

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Ms Cunningham, who was born in Nottingham, had a degree from Loughborough University and a master’s degree from The Royal College of Art in 2022. where she won the Ali H Alkazzi Scholarship Award. Her work had been exhibited all over the world, in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, Vancouver and she had recently returned to London from an exhibition in Seoul.

Flowers at Chalk Farm underground station

The Lisson Gallery, in Lisson Grove, where Ms Cunningham had seen her work displayed for her first solo exhibition in London, said in a statement: “Sarah was an incredibly talented, intelligent and original artist who we all called a friend. Her paintings are authentic, intuitive and pure with the raw power to immediately foster connections with others – qualities reflected in Sarah’s own indomitable character.”

It added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Sarah’s family, friends and loved ones. We ask that everyone respect their privacy and allow them to mourn and celebrate her life, which she left behind far too soon.”

Ms Cunningham was last seen in Jamestown Road, Camden Town, at about 3am on Saturday. A missing persons inquiry was launched by police and friends stuck up posters across Camden Town and beyond. Appeals for sightings were also shared widely across social media.

Hope that she had been seen in Islington appeared to be a case of mistaken identity.

Appeal posters appeared all over Camden  Town

Emergency services were called to Chalk Farm underground station shortly after 1am on Monday and police later confirmed a body had been recovered. Officers said Ms Cunningham’s death is being treated as unexpected, but not suspicious.

Campaigners have called for better safety measures to be introduced on the tube network, including the kind of screens in place in some Jubilee Line stations in central London and which restrict access onto the track. Costs are said to be the main factor for these not being introduced across the network.

A legal case is ongoing between Sarah de Lagarde, a woman from Camden Town who survived after falling onto the Northern line tracks but lost two limbs over safety.

A TfL statement said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the person who died at Chalk Farm Underground station on November 4. The safety of our customers is our top priority and we continue to assist the police with their investigation.”

A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police said: “The death is being treated as unexpected but at this time it is not thought to be suspicious.”

A British Transport Police statement added: that “a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

An inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court is expected.

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