The surreal paintings of Frank Chiappa will bring the Masterworks Foundation's `Artists Up Front...Street' 2002 series to a delightful end when it opens on Friday.

Bright colours and creative concepts are the hallmarks of this self-taught Bermudian artist's first solo show, appropriately entitled `Imagination'.

"My paintings are created from thirty years of being a musician, carpenter and artist, and the subject matter is varied - everything from character portraits to musical instruments, trade tools, still lifes and seascapes," he said. As befits a surrealist, Mr. Chiappa's paintings are whimsical flights of fantasy, and a delightful escape from the constricts of reality.

"I create and paint through my imagination, which gives me the freedom to express my feelings on canvas and escape into an unreal world where my soul is in tune with the creativity of brush to canvas," he added. "As such I just paint through those forces."

While this may be Mr. Chiappa's first solo exhibition, he is by no means a stranger to galleries here and abroad.

"I have been a member of the Bermuda Society of Arts since 1972, and in 1985 I received a Certificate of Commendation for one of my oil paintings from the late Sam Morse-Brown, who was president of the Society at the time," he said.

Other exhibitions in which Mr. Chiappa has participated include the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.

"I did very well, and had a very positive response from the local art community, as well as the community in general," the artist says.

Describing being an artist as the fulfillment of his dreams, Mr. Chiappa says it was the late Charles Lloyd Tucker who made him realise that is what he wanted to do.

"One Saturday morning when I was ten, as I was walking along Church Street with a friend, heading to the Playhouse movie theatre, I saw a man standing at his easel painting the shell of the Hamilton Hotel, which burnt down in 1955. I stopped and was fascinated by what he was doing. I stood there for quite a while until my friend pulled me away. The artist was the late Charles Lloyd Tucker, who was one of Bermuda's great artists. I knew that was what I wanted to be, so now I am fulfilling my dreams."

When he is not in his studio, Mr. Chiappa likes to assist with special projects at Belco, where he has worked for the past 12 years.

"I became involved in creating and constructing their Bermuda Day floats. Last year we won two awards for a magnificent display of creativity," he says. "I am also actively involved in Belco's annual Christmas lights display. Again, this gives me an opportunity to continue to express my creativity in a different art form."

Meanwhile, Mr. Chiappa is delighted that Masterworks has afforded him the opportunity, and support, to exhibit his work in its `Artists Up Front!...Street' series.

"It has been a great ten months preparing for this show," he says.

The show opens to the public on Saturday, November 16 and continues through .... For further information ( 295-5580.