Barbados artist Faith Allison Headley-Callender says her art is a gift from God.

“Like all other talents, we just have to make the best of what God has given us and use it to the fullest,” she said.

“There are no hidden interpretations in my work, it is personal and relates generally to my love of nature and the human form.

“Art is subjective and will not necessarily be loved by all, but whatever you see and get from the work is your personal interpretation, and if you get nothing, then that's fine.”

Mrs. Headley-Callender is one of the two visiting Caribbean artists that will be displaying work in the West Indian Association's show at the Bermuda National Gallery, on Friday.

She was born in Barbados and grew up in the parish of St. Philip and was always surrounded by the arts.

In addition to her art she pursued music, dance and drama and is an accomplished violinist and sings soprano in the Royal Diadems Choir. Mrs. Headley-Callender is also an avid nature lover, she hikes and has won several 10k walk races. She is also the president of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme Group Leaders Association.

Along with her busy life, she is one of the few Bajan female artists who graduated from the Barbados Community College, and still finds time to create.

“I don't have a specific time to create paintings,” said Mrs. Headley-Callender.

“I am always travelling, hiking and soaking in all ideas. I am always sketching and have loads of sketches, which I have painted and drawn from as early as 1993 that I use and alter even now.

“I mostly create or like the rush of meeting a deadline for either a project or an exhibition. It is a real rush to see what I can do, even though I am my worst critic. I am now into miniatures, which don't take up so much time as well.”

She is surrounded by the arts as the assistant art curator at The Barbados Museum and Historical Society and works as an artist on a part-time basis, but if she was a full-time artist she said: “I would have to really market my work to a certain level in order to sustain my self and live a certain lifestyle.

“I paint for pleasure not that a company or organisation is depending on me to supply what they need. It is more a love for, rather than a have to, I think when you reach that stage your originality and love might go.

“I can't really say that I have any favourite pieces; there are some works that mean a lot to me simply because of where I was in my artistic career when I had produced them.

“I would have to say a hand painted cushion of a blue poinsettia, which won a silver award at National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) 2004 for many reasons. I wanted to enter, but I was occupied with other work and didn't want to exhibit just for the sake of exhibiting, but the night before the deadline I decided to paint and I created that piece.

“I am never satisfied with just paint alone, I love simplicity, but just the right touch of this, and a dab of that, can really add or liven up a work.

“It is both an honour and a humbling experience to be invited to participate in an exhibition such as this.

“Also to be selected to exhibit alongside other West Indian artists is a joy and a most rewarding experience. I am grateful to the organisers who have been corresponding with me and afforded me this opportunity.

“I can't wait to put faces to all these people who have met via e-mail and phone, requesting information. Having exhibited in Miami and London, I've actually never travelled with the works, so I am looking forward, if it is God's will to attend and share with the Bermudian community my experience as an artist.”

Her wish for future generations is for them to place God first and foremost in their lives and in all that they do or put their hands to do. She said: “Use every opportunity for personal development and knowledge.”