When Michael Frith arrived in Bermuda 1997 as artist-in-residence at Masterworks' Terrace Gallery in Dockyard, it marked his first visit to the Island.

Now he is back for another first -- tomorrow's opening of a solo exhibition at the Burnaby Gallery in Hamilton.

While the idea of producing a body of work based on his Bermuda stay was always in the back of his mind, it was the invitation from the gallery to have a one-man show which provided the necessary impetus.

As a result, the more than twenty pieces in the `New Bermuda Paintings' collection encapsulate some of the memories which stood out in his mind after returning to England: among them the vibrant colours, a moonlight picnic by the sea, the contrast between sea and sky, pristine rooflines, and a particular favourite -- the beaches at Daniel's Head, where he and his family spent many an idyllic hour.

While Mr. Frith's chosen medium is watercolour, there is none of the delicacy or saccharine, pastel prettiness commonly associated with this medium in many artists' eyes. Instead, his work is refreshingly strong and bold, his colours rich and vivid, with a pronounced emphasis on potent blues and aquas.

"Bermuda is all about colour,'' he explains of his interpretations.

While the artist is turning more and more to painting these days, following his graduation in 1973 from Canterbury College of Art with a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design, he spent twenty highly successful years as an illustrator. Among the positions he held was that of Art Director at London's Daily Mail newspaper.

He also notes that when newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch computerised the newsrooms of the various UK publications in his empire, including The Times and The Sun, at his newly-built premises outside London, when the unions vehemently objected to modernisation, he had to cross picket lines and was spat at.

Nonetheless, those were also exciting times for newpaper and television illustrators, and Mr. Frith was required to turn his artistic hand to anything from illustrating gardening columns to high profile trials.

His assignments included the trials of disgraced Liberal party leader Jeremy Thorpe, and the Yorkshire Ripper, Royal weddings, Wimbledon tennis, news and fashion, as well as illustrations for weekly food/restaurant columns in the Sunday Times for such celebrated writers as AA Gill and Craig Brown.

"I am very proud that I got involved in it all,'' he says, "but I resigned from newspapers to pursue my own work.'' Among his many assignments as a freelance illustrator are several books, the latest of which, `A Book of Promises', is for children.

As an artist, from 1977 he has had many solo exhibitions and also participated in mixed exhibitions in his native Britain. In Bermuda, he exhibited at the National Gallery in 1998.

Mr. Frith's paintings are included in both Britain's National Portrait Gallery collection, and that of Bermuda's Masterworks Foundation. In fact, his work was included in the latter's travelling show to New York and Philadelphia.

Looking to the future, the artist says he plans to do less illustration work and concentrate more on his art and producing more shows. He is also "dabbling with the idea'' of creating more sculptures, but will need funding for this. At present Mr. Frith is working on a huge, steel water fountain featuring a whale's tail.

Another major work-in-progress is a series of portraits for an eventual one-man show at Britain's National Portrait Gallery.

"For the past ten years I have been painting portraits mostly of celebrities who are larger-than-life characters,'' he explains.

Among the subjects already completed are British actress Sarah Miles, actor/writer/director/TV personality Stephen Fry, Body Shop entrepreneur Anita Roddick, and the late media tycoon Robert Maxwell.

"He was like a big schoolboy bully,'' Mr. Frith remembers of the man. "My portrait was five foot by four feet, just of his face. When he saw that his only comment was, "At last, a life-sized portrait of me.'' Unfortunately, Mr. Maxwell died before the portrait was finished, but the National Portrait Gallery subsequently bought it, thus leading to its interest in having the one-man exhibition.

Well-known as an illustrator in Britain, 49-year-old Mr. Frith says he is now trying to achieve the same recognition as a painter.

"It is gradually getting there, but I am not bothered about whether it is in England or anywhere else.'' Meanwhile, he continues to enjoy life with his wife and two daughters in their West Sussex home, where he has his own studio.

New Bermuda Paintings is at the Burnaby Gallery from November 9 to December 5.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, or by appointment. Admission is free. For further information telephone 292-8614.

Photos by Arthur Bean Beautiful Bermuda: Artist Michael Frith, above, with `Lady in Blue' and right, `Daniel's Head'.