Painting whatever appeals at the moment is how Bermudian artist Barbara Lines Verdie approaches her easel at any given time, and indeed she describes her taste as “eclectic”, and her subject matter as “varied”. The latter includes flora, fauna, landscapes, still lifes, abstracts, and some portraiture, so when her first solo exhibition, consisting of over 40 paintings, opens in the Bermuda Society of Arts’ Edinburgh Gallery on Friday viewers will enjoy a very mixed body of work.

Mrs. Verdie’s favoured medium is acrylics, but she also works in watercolours, oils and pastels.

Born and raised in Bermuda, she demonstrated an early aptitude for art, which was encouraged during her general education at the Bermuda High School for Girls, and at home she was always drawing and painting. Small wonder, then, that when she moved on to Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, it was to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which she duly gained.

During the all-embracing degree course, the artist also studied architecture, jewellery and pottery out of interest, but painting and sculpture were her primary focus, and the elements she most enjoyed. Following her graduation, Mrs. Verdie married and settled in England, where family life superseded art for many years while she raised the couple’s two sons.

Finally, in 1990, with her children grown, the transplanted Bermudian decided to resume her love of painting, and has never looked back.

Joining an art group in Banstead, Surrey, where the family lives, Mrs. Verdie immersed herself once more in the joy of painting. Along with her fellow artists, she soon became a frequent exhibitor in her community and beyond, and many of her paintings found their way into the collections of eager purchasers.

For more than a decade the artist has also served on the group’s committee, and is in charge of organising its painting holidays, choosing locations which are worth painting, and which have beautiful grounds. “We are all artists of varying abilities, and I want them to be able to paint on the spot,” she says.

Mrs. Verdie is also a member of a weekly art group in Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, and she has also studied with a professional teacher.

Last year, her work was included in the Bermuda National Gallery’s Bacardi Biennial exhibition, as well as a group show at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

The artist has no “favourite” subject, but says she paints “whatever appeals at the moment”, including life drawings. She also undertakes commissions, many of them to paint family pets, and particularly dogs.

“I am Bermudian, but I know how the English love their dogs, so what a good way to make a living,” she smiles. However, an exasperating experience with the owner of a miniature poodle led her to say “never again” to live sittings. Apparently, the owner repeatedly requested that the artist adjust the pet’s portrait to keep pace with the ever-changing style of its coat!

“I have found that people are far fussier about the end result of their animal’s painting than they are over their own portraits. It’s amazing,” Mrs. Verdie says.

When working in her studio at home, the artist says she becomes so immersed in her painting that time is “absolutely meaningless”, yet she eschews routine, preferring instead to take up her brushes whenever the mood strikes her.

“It is a hobby which I do when I can,” she says modestly.

Like all artists, Mrs. Verdie loves Bermuda’s wonderful light, which is very different to that of England, and this is reflected subconsciously in her work.

“Whereas Bermuda’s light is brilliant, England’s is soft, so I tend to use a softer palette, but when I exhibit I subconsciously gravitate towards brighter colours. My love of colour and form has always been acute, and I am able to express myself with far more confidence when a brush is in my hand,” she says.

In terms of her first-ever solo exhibition here, the Bermudian artist says she is both “excited, and delighted to be home”.

Mrs. Verdie’s untitled media exhibition opens on Friday and continues through May 16. For gallery hours see the Bermuda Calendar (pages 33-34).