When 58-year-old Steve Conway told friends and family he was finally ready to host his first art exhibition, their response was: ‘Well it’s about time!’

For years loved ones had been encouraging him to get his work out there, but he was hesitant. Now he’s taking a risk by sharing his art work with the wider public.

“It’s a bit daunting as an amateur artist to put yourself under the microscope,” he told The Royal Gazette

“It’s a very personal journey for me — as I paint mainly at night and have never embarked on an exhibition before. My wife and family have always been my main cheerleaders — I just hope others will find something they can relate to.

“I have never considered myself an artist — I just paint what inspires me.”

Mr Conway’s first solo exhibition — ‘It’s About Time’ — will be on display in the Rick Faries Gallery at Masterworks from next Friday until April 23.

It consists of over 20 paintings done over the past six months, many of which have a “heritage inspired theme” and were inspired by Bermuda landscapes and places that caught his eye — docks, people, boats on moorings, palmetto trees and old Bermuda houses.

He said: “My inspiration is my love of Bermuda. I feel privileged to live and work in on this beautiful island and I wanted to capture and convey what makes it unique through art.

“Like a lot of local artists, the attraction is the sun bouncing off the Bermuda landscape, dark black shadows, light dancing on water and palms bristling in the wind.”

Through his day job as a building surveyor for the Ministry of Public Works, Mr Conway has spent years involved with the unique Bermuda buildings and the natural landscape that makes the island so attractive to a painter.

Some of his favourite places to paint are Flatts Inlet, where it’s common to see the water rushing through, boats moored up and buildings tucked into the hillside.

He admitted that he’s keen to try and paint something a bit more edgy but said: “This what I naturally keep falling back to”.

Mr Conway has been passionate about the arts since he was young.

“Way back in time I did A level in art and my art teacher tried to persuade me to go to art college, but I resisted and went to a college of building instead,” he said.

“I just continued painting usually as gifts for friends and for our own house. Sometimes I have provided drawings for the National Trust’s architectural books and a few times I have painted some local theatrical sets.”

He and his wife often visit the Masterworks Gallery and Homer’s Café on the weekends, so he opted to show his work there to better support the organisation. Part proceeds from all sales of his work will go to the Masterworks Foundation.

Mr Conway hopes that people will come out and see his work, but more importantly that they would develop an appreciation of the local environment through art.

“I just want to share my passion — it’s that simple,” he added.

‘It’s About Time’ will be opening with a reception next Friday, from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Useful website: www.bermudamasterworks.com