The phrase "a brush with the law'' takes on an entirely new meaning after meeting cop Frank Dublin.

For the Grenadian-born Bermuda Police officer is creating a second career as a painter.

Mr. Dublin has just ended a two week show at Masterworks in Hamilton as part of the Artists Up Front....Street series.

He admitted the down-to-earth world of a serving Police officer was a world away from the more rarefied atmosphere of an art gallery.

Mr. Dublin said: "I find it very fulfilling -- this is one of the avenues I use to relieve myself of stress from the job. It's something I really enjoy.'' He added -- despite the macho image of Police culture -- few eyebrows had been raised over his painting.

Mr. Dublin admitted: "You can always associate being a teacher and being an artist, but not a Policeman.'' But he said: "I have been getting a lot of very positive support from my colleagues.'' The artist showed a total of 18 works at the Masterworks show, in oils and pastels.

He describes himself as a Caribbean Impressionist and says he is strongly influenced by his native West Indian culture as well as Bermuda.

Mr. Dublin said: "I grew up in a West Indian culture, but I have been living in Bermuda for quite a long time and there is a Caribbean theme in some of my work.

"I grew up in a big family and these are the things I really enjoy in life -- brothers, sisters and mothers doing the family-orientated things which we don't see much of today.'' This is reflected in the show at Masterworks, which closed last week after a two-week run.

The Caribbean -- and family -- influence is strong in pastels like Doing Up for Church and He's My Brother.

The first perfectly captures the coiled spring impatience of a little girl in her Sunday best standing still while her mother does her hair. And his use of soft blues and pinks stands out well against the dull browns of the background.

The second again catches a moment in time, with a sister standing like a little guardsman or a prototype mother as her younger brother examines a flower. Her barely controlled irritation is beautifully rendered by posture rather than expression.

His pastels have something of the quality of the better-known Sharon Wilson and comparison is unavoidable, but I have no doubt Dublin is painting from the heart rather than self-consciously imitating the work of another artist.

Another gem, this time in oils, is Basket Woman, which again uses broad strokes rather than detail to convey a sense of dull drudgery.

Sharing a timeless quality with the above works is Backyard Hopscotch -- a beautifully balanced work capturing the simultaneous gawkiness and grace of a young girl poised not only over her game but on the edge of adulthood.

More pedestrian works on show included two views of Clearwater Beach, one in oils and one in pastels.

The oil painting shows a nice touch with water and surf and his use of greenery provides a frame within a frame, sweeping around from the front to the back with a self-confident dynamism.

His pastel interpretation of the same scene, however, appears flat by comparison and lacks the breezy assurance of the oil painting.

But, all in all Dublin's work has a timeless quality and shows a rare insight in raising slices of ordinary life into a distinctive art form.

Artist/Policeman Frank Dublin