A SELECT group of artists is to show its works in an exhibition to open at the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard this weekend.

The artists - who paint using a variety of mediums - were invited to submit works based on the theme Botanicals for the exhibit, which will open on Sunday, according to Justine Foster, the Centre's curator.

"We chose each of them because of their style, because we thought they would complement each other," she said. "Generally, for the group show exhibit, our committee gets together and thinks about a theme and decides (which artists) we think would be a good combination. Usually, it means we get a really high quality show.

"Although Botanicals is a bit of a dry sounding title, each has approached it in such a different way - it should be a real feast. Maria Evers Smith has done oil paintings - mainly close-ups of flowers - Ann Proctor has done watercolours which are very detailed whereas Dan DeSilva has that same attention to detail, but he's more stylised in his approach.

"Tracy Williams does watercolours which are really hyper-realistic, they almost seem like photographs, and Kok Wan Lee does a more abstract version. It should be a great show. We're really looking forward to it."

Some 45 pieces were to be exhibited, she said.

Artist Don Trousdell took a unique approach to the theme.

"For example, one of them involves different birds in Bermuda wrapped in a huge bouquet. In it, the vase becomes the sky. In another, there's a huge chrysalis and the vase is huge butterfly wings.

"They're similar to a group of 12 pieces that I did last year. Instead of using flowers, I used objects of nature to make the bouquet. Everybody does flowers and vases. I did that with a twist on it. I thought it would be fun for this show because it's really a different take on the theme."

Bermudian Daniel DeSilva has always had an interest in art. He attended the Ontario College of Art, where he studied illustration and design, before honing his skills at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, majoring in fine art and art education. He has shown his works at the Bermuda Society of Arts and the Windjammer Gallery and has also had work selected for exhibit in the Bacardi Biennial Exhibition 2000 at the Bermuda National Gallery.

"Initially, I was surprised to be invited with a number of other artists to be part of the Botanicals show in Dockyard," said the high school teacher. "I was very pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the show and I am honoured to have been considered with the other artists for display.

"My images tend to be abstracts; compact compositions of a larger picture that are a glimpse or snapshot of things that anyone could see, as they glance around them in Bermuda. It is important to me that I depict sights of Bermuda.

"As a Bermudian, I cannot divest myself from what I see every day as I live and work. I consider the compositions and designs I see around me, and many of them can be developed into paintings. I focus primarily on the line I find in the compositions I choose, and the colours found in the composition help enhance depth and structure of the work.

"I am excited to be included in a group show like this, and I anticipate that the varied styles and approaches to Botanicals will make it an exciting show for all those who come to see it."

Artist Tracy Williams was also excited about the upcoming show in which she will exhibit five watercolours - four large and one smaller. In the past, she has undertaken a wide variety of subjects including architectural details, flora, still life, botanical and equine art.

Her work has been included in the past four Bacardi Limited Biennials at the Bermuda National Gallery and she has also participated in numerous local and international exhibitions including Watercolour West.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and Syracuse University, Mrs. Williams won the Best Sporting Art award at the American Academy of Equine Artists exhibition and in October 2001 The Artist's Magazine featured an article on her work

Said Mrs. Williams: "I was in (the Centre's) Still Life show last year and (Mrs. Foster) knows that I paint flowers and botanicals which was great because I had all these flower paintings I'd already done. I simply try to paint the images that impress me with their beauty and intensity."

Botanicals opens at the Bermuda Arts Centre at Dockyard this Sunday and runs through October 11. The gallery is open Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact the Centre at 234-2809.