A painting by a landmark Bermudian artist has returned to the island after years in the United States.

The artwork by Charles Lloyd Tucker, a view of Burchall’s Cove in Hamilton Parish, was donated to the Masterworks Museum by Dennis Treshock, from New Jersey.

Tom Butterfield, founder and creative director at the Paget art gallery, said: “Charles Lloyd Tucker was a huge influence here in Bermuda as a teacher in the Fifties and Sixties. I think this is one of his best pieces.”

Mr Butterfield said he was contacted about the painting by Dennis Treshock, who inherited it from a neighbour.

The painting had belonged to Marion Coulson, a New Jersey resident and frequent Bermuda visitor.

Mr Butterfield explained: “Ms Coulson loved the island. She was a real Bermudaphile.

“Mr Treshock was her neighbour in New Jersey and he fell in love with the painting. When she died, she left it to him.”

Mr Treshock said Ms Coulson had been a well-respected teacher and psychologist and the two struck up a friendship before she passed away in 2000.

He said: “We would often talk about art and she had some great pieces.

“The one that really struck me was this colourful water scene. She told me of meeting Mr Tucker and her love of Bermuda. Before she passed, she gave me this lovely painting and it always reminds me of her.”

Mr Treshock added: “I’ve enjoyed seeing it every day for the last 25 years, but I always knew it belonged in Bermuda.”

He said he wanted to bring the painting back to Bermuda and, in the spirit of generosity he received from Ms Coulson, wanted to donate it in her name.

Mr Treshock said: “I found the Masterworks Museum online and realised that’s where I wanted it to go.

“When I contacted Tom Butterfield, his excitement made my decision easy.

“Only a small number of people have seen this work in the last 60 years, but I’m sure that’s about to change. I hope to come visit it someday.”

Mr Butterfield added that the gallery already had several works by Mr Tucker, who died in 1972, including four donated last year by a collector in California. But the latest acquisition could be the best example of his work Masterworks had.

He said: “It’s just so full of colour and it fantastically captures Burchall’s Cove.

“If you see the area now, it’s flooded by boats and development has really begun to encroach on the area.

“You can hardly recognise it. When it was painted in 1957, it was just used for a few fishing boats.”