Growth is an integral part of every artist's development which is why, after 15 years as a professional photographer, Amanda Temple has moved her work in a new direction ¿ namely, mixed-media abstract painting, the debut exhibition of which the public will have a chance to enjoy with tomorrow evening's opening of 'Mixology' in the Bermuda Society of Arts gallery at City Hall.

The artist's change of direction has come about through dealing with the corporate and private clients of her art-consultation firm, Eikona Gallery, who seek sophisticated, non-representational art.

As a result, Mrs. Temple has become immersed in the international art market, regularly visiting overseas galleries and attending large art fairs. In searching for new talent to share with her clients, she has also become a keen observer of new movements in the contemporary art world.

"Corporations tend to collect work that is neutral in subject matter, so they often require abstract art for their offices," she says. "In order to address the definite shortage of sophisticated, non-representational art in Bermuda, Eikona brings in the work of key international artists, including work in abstract styles."

While Mrs. Temple says she has made it her personal mission to foster the arts within Bermuda, and encourages her fellow Bermudians to produce more varied work suitable for corporate settings, she is "bemused by the resistance of many local artists and collectors to move beyond representation, or to experiment with styles outside of realism", so she decided to take matters into her own hands.

"My crucial exposure to contemporary trends in abstractionism, and a fervent desire to broaden Bermuda's aesthetic environment, have inspired me to depart from my primary medium of photography," she says. "This exhibition demonstrates my ability to channel my experience and creative vision into painting, while challenging the populace to see art through a decidedly different paradigm." Her paintings are not without reference to the natural world, however. In fact, as a Bermudian artist Mrs. Temple says she is greatly influenced by her surroundings.

"My work conjures up a watery world of swirling eddies and churning seas. The sea is always a focus of my vision, as reflected in the titles of my paintings. Each represents a particular geographical location, and features characteristics of that region, be it the direction of the prevailing current, the mineral content, or even the historical context."

One of Mrs. Temple's favourite pieces is a diptych entitled 'Naipi del Iguacu' and 'Taroba del Iguacu', and she outlines the legend behind the concept.

Iguacu Falls are located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, and legend has it that a snake god was due to marry a beautiful Indian girl called Naipi. To evade this fate, she and her mortal lover, Taroba, fled in a canoe. In a jealous rage, the god severed the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal separation. Naipi became a rock in the middle of the falls, and Taroba a palm tree at the edge of an abyss, where the vengeful monster watches his victims for eternity.

"I visited the falls a few years ago and was mesmerised by their beauty and the powerful force of the water," the artist says.

"While creating this body of work, although using paint in scores of colours, it seemed the works all became somewhat similar. I would spend many days, or even weeks, on each piece, and some works may have up to 15 layers, but they all encompass turquoise to some degree. I have always been drawn to the ocean, adore every shade of blue, and I've been told that I could swim before I could walk."

To create her pieces, Mrs. Temple used a lot of water, but also incorporated an interesting combination of other media, including acrylic paint, varnish, eggshell, enamel, polyurethane, earth, spackle, lacquer, and even Pledge and Palmolive!

"It has been a wonderful change of perspective from the camera. Every piece is an experiment, and I watch in fascination to see how the various mediums encounter and react to each other," she says.

Nonetheless, the exhibition will also include some photography.

Following tomorrow's official opening in the Edinburgh Gallery at 5.30 p.m., 'Mixology' will continue through December 12. For further information, contact Mrs. Temple at 236-2339.