A major exhibition by three of Bermuda's leading painters opens to the public tomorrow at the Windjammer Gallery.

Susan Curtis, Elmer Midgett and Sheilagh Head are combining their talents in `Three Friends' and will feature a variety of landscapes, seascapes, gardens and interiors.

The three artists, who all work primarily in oils, last had a group show about a decade ago, "when Elmer was very involved in, and showed his stained glass work,'' says Mrs. Curtis, who is also the proprietor of the Hamilton gallery.

"I suppose the main thing that binds us together is the fact that we all paint outside. We have appreciated the chance to get together to paint and thought it would be an interesting combination of people who paint similar things in different ways.'' "I love group shows,'' enthuses Mrs. Head, "partly because of the interaction -- painting is basically a very lonely pursuit -- and also, there is less pressure! Showing together is a terrific support mechanism.'' While Sheilagh Head and Elmer Midgett have concentrated on Bermuda, Mrs.

Curtis has included several paintings from Provence in the south of France, where she travels frequently for the sole purpose of painting. "It's Van Gogh country,'' she explains, "at a place called St. Remy de Provence, in between Avignon and Arles. I've been going there for six years now.'' "Elmer and I have very deliberately painted the same subjects but, of course, from our own individual style and perspective. Also, it's no longer safe to venture out to paint alone in Bermuda. That's a very sad comment on the times,'' says Mrs. Head. "But we have enjoyed working together and we believe this underpins the concept that the subject of a painting is secondary to what the artist has to say about a particular place, a particular season or time of day -- it is our constant striving to capture the spirit of whatever we're painting, whether it's Susan's scarlet poppies, a Bermuda beach or even, heaven forbid, an unrepentently pink cottage! It is what an artist communicates about a cottage or a poppy, or the sea, that's important.'' `Three Friends' opens at the Windjammer (corner of King and Reid Streets) on October 16 and runs through October 31.