Pastel artist Dean Walker is to open a new show at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

'Small World', which features smaller works by the artist, opens Friday.

"I work exclusively in pastels and generally work on a large scale with most paintings being 24" x 36" or larger. Many of my followers and admirers of my work have asked if I would be doing any smaller works. So this show will be dominated with smaller paintings.

"They are still painted with all the colour and flair that I can deliver, but in a smaller package. This show demonstrates what we all know to be true Bermuda is both another world, and a small world too. There will also be a few larger pieces just to keep it interesting."

Adjusting from a larger format to a much smaller one was a challenge, he admitted.

"For me smaller generally meant tighter," said Mr. Walker. "It took a while and many paintings later before I was able to achieve the same loose style that I display in my larger paintings.

"I only hope that my public agrees."

Mr. Walker came to Bermuda six years ago. Moving to the Island proved a great opportunity for him to finally pursue a career in fine art.

"Pastels was and continues to be my favourite medium," he said. "Finding inspiration on an Island like Bermuda proved to be very easy.

"In fact, for a representational artist such as myself, Bermuda proved to be a gold mine of inspiration.

"With the Island as a backdrop, and the opportunity to paint full time in Bermuda, I defined my goals. One, to paint every day; two, to take advantage of what the Island has to offer and gather as many references for paintings as possible; three, to learn as much as I can about my chosen media through other artists, artist workshops and books."

And he has worked hard to accomplish these goals.

"And this hard work has taught me that we learn not only through practise, but also by example," he said. "From an early age, I have observed other artists at work, both by studying their art and by reading artist magazines and books.

"I have actively pursued learning all that I can from a wide variety of other artists. Yet, despite all of this input, I believe that my pastels are pure Dean Walker vibrant seascapes, colourful dinghies and thoughtful portraits that represent Bermuda at its most beautiful and at its best."

The artist is a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois and studied watercolour under master watercolourist Irving Shapiro.

"A full-time graphic artist for 23 years, he exhibited his watercolours part time, winning numerous awards and competitions. In 1999 he switched to pastels, and is a frequent prize-winner in art and pastel magazines."

'Small World' opens with a reception from 5.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.