IN the year since Barry Herniman last exhibited his paintings in Tenby he has had a busy time. His award as Society for All Artists 'Artist of the Year' in July 2001, led to a round of engagements which have taken him to the USA, Spain, Italy and venues throughout the UK to tutor painting courses and give talks. His distinctive methods of work have featured in 'The Artist,' 'The Leisure Painter' and Artist and Illustrator' magazines and he can be seen in action in his painting videos recently released.

One of Barry's favourite places for painting is Pembrokeshire, and for some years now he has brought groups of artists here to learn at first hand his ways of making watercolour represent the dramatic seas and coastline of the county, battling with the elements to capture the unique quality of light and patterns of wave formations.

His completed paintings, characteristically painted wet in wet in a loose and lively style, belie his preliminary planning through a series of sketches and tonal studies of the scene.

Barry Herniman's new exhibition at Art Matters in Tenby will show pastoral river scenes of the Wye Valley, where he lives, Pembrokeshire coast's rugged cliffs and wild seas, Tenby, and soft moor and mountain views of Ireland in watercolour, pastel and a mixture of both.

The exhibition starts on Wednesday, December 11, and continues until Saturday, January 4, Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 5 pm (except Christmas day).

Barry returns to Art Matters in February to run a week of workshops for local artists at the start of the spring programme of workshops in the gallery, which also involves 10 other tutors.

For further information telephone (01834) 843375.