They grew up together, played together, had fun together, and share a host of memories. Now brother and sister Scott and Jodie Tucker have used those memories as inspiration for their first joint exhibition.

It opens tonight at the Rick Faries Gallery of the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art and it will be Mr. Tucker's first solo exhibition.

The mixed media show, entitled 'Looking Back, Going Forward', is inspired by the hours the siblings spent as children among the mango trees adjoining the family home at Hungry Bay, in Paget, where they grew up.

"We believe that those youthful years hanging out in the mangroves gave us our love for nature, and nurtured us to be the artists we are today," Ms Tucker, who now lives in England, said. "Our roots really do lie in the mangroves, and it is the first place I go to when I return to the Island."

Echoing his sister's fascination with the mangroves, Mr.Tucker added: "I grew up in the mangroves – literally. My first childhood memories are of the hours I spent among them, the shoreline and the tidal pools. It was a place of great mystery, both beautiful and frightening. This backyard, combined with classic stories like 'The Water Babies',' 'Alice in Wonderland', and 'Robinson Crusoe', fuelled my young imagination for years."

Mr. Tucker is a professional photographer, while his sister is an artist. Over the years, they have often reminisced about their early childhood at Hungry Bay. At the same time, Ms Tucker recognised that her brother had reserves of artistic talent which she felt needed to be brought out. Finally, she decided it was time get going.

"Jodie threw down the gauntlet and said 'we're going to do a show, stop talking art and start making it'," Mr. Tucker remembers.

During their numerous discussions, the siblings discovered that they shared the same images and dreams, and these became the focal point of Mr. Tucker's work.

"Over the years I have been haunted by images inspired by the mangroves, some quite vivid, while others were ethereal," he says. "One of the dreams was of a woman lying in the shallows, the sunlight filtering through the trees, and fallen leaves floating on the surface and below the water, making the image both vivid and obscure.

"Incredibly, I discovered years later during one of our long talks discussing our ideas and inspirations, that Jodie, who was living in England, shared this recurring dream. The image of the woman in the water led me to begin a journey exploring the human form in harmony, and juxtaposed with nature."

For her part, Ms Tucker says she had been sketching "for years and years, and searching for the right moment". Then she discovered pen and ink, and has made prints from her images, which are included in the exhibition, as well as the original images.

Inspiration for three of her prints, such as 'The Hungry Mouth of the Bay', came from the artist's childhood memories of her three brothers trying to get their boats out of the mouth of the bay, while those of the 'Boy and Girl with Boat' and the 'Boat of my Dreams' were inspired by her involvement with the restoration of a 1922 Bermuda cedar boat, The Rambler.

"The concept behind the two prints on canvas of a girl, with the bay and trees painted on to her back and arms, was that wherever we go we carry the imprint of our roots with us – she is, and always will be an Island girl. This is just the beginning of the series," Ms Tucker says.

Looking back over the past year, the artist says it has been one of exploring new mediums.

"While my still lifes and florals speak for themselves, they have taken on a new quality with the use of egg tempera. Also, working with oils, acrylics and printmaking, this collection if work is very different in subject and execution."

In spending time with the siblings, it is obvious that their joint exhibition has enhanced an already close relationship between two kindred spirits, and both agree that their journey to fulfillment of their goal has been a rewarding one.

"We both found it a great journey, and I think we both learned a lot about ourselves during this experience, but just as important is that we discovered a freedom of expression which we supported in each other," Ms Tucker says.

"(In fact), the best part of this show has been sharing it with Scott. He and I collaborated over the phone, sharing our ideas, and over the Internet, critiquing each other's work as it developed. Some of the finished images I am showing have been in my sketchbooks over the year. They may appear to be imagined, but all have their beginnings in reality."

For his part, Mr. Tucker describes his new-found creativity and preparation for the show as "a great experience, very intense – a bit of a surprise".

"A lot of my work is based on the fact that in childhood there was nothing but books, illustrations and the outdoors to fuel the imagination. Art is work, and I would never have produced what I have if it wasn't for Jodie. We were each other's supporters and critics. It was a very inspirational experience for me, and it feels like it is the beginning of my going further."

Ms Tucker concurs, saying: "Hopefully, Scott and I will continue to show together in the future – this is just 'Brother and Sister Act I'."

'Looking Back, Going Forward' continues through December 17. For gallery hours see the Bermuda Calendar.