A new art show opens at Commissioner's House, Dockyard on Saturday. Entitled `The West Indies Views of Thomas Driver', it explores the shared heritage of Bermuda and the West Indies through 18 watercolours from the comprehensive Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection.

Born in 1978, Driver came to Bermuda from England in the early 1800s and was described as "the Colony's only artist".

He spent nearly 22 years here, but also travelled to the West Indies where he created accurate paintings of British, French and Dutch colonies.

Much of the information on display about the artist at this exhibition is thanks to the extensive research of Mrs. Elliott, as well as Government Archivist Karla Hayward and her predecessor, John Adams. The Driver show also links to `Bermuda and the West Indies' in the recently opened permanent exhibition room at Commissioner's House sponsored by the Bank of Butterfield. The twin exhibitions give visitors an opportunity to learn more about Bermuda, the West Indies and their shared heritage.

`The West Indies Views of Thomas Driver' is the latest in a series of collaborative shows by the Bermuda Maritime Museum and the Bermuda Archives.

The Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection, containing more than 200 watercolours and other items from the 19th century, is housed in the Archives, and its various artworks and artifacts are publicly displayed at the Museum every six months in the Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Room at Commissioner's House.

Opening hours are 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For further information contact Curator Charlotte Andrews at the Bermuda Maritime Museum ( 234-1333, ext. 105