UNTIL OCTOBER 11.

*** Elgey in a country churchyard just about sums up the exhibition by Laura of that ilk at the Edinburgh Gallery.

For every cliche of the Bermudian beach, cottage, and yes, even a church is on show.

I don't want to get into a debate on whether it's art or craft -- a former colleague left the Island not long after such a furore, although I'm sure the two events were not related.

But Elgey, an English-born artist showing her views of Bermuda, has clearly pitched her work -- some 40-odd watercolours -- at what, on this Island, is literally the carriage trade.

And it doesn't surprise me her art has been featured on postcards. Or chocolate boxes even.

What makes her pretty and pink work so depressing is that her series on Gombeys are truly marvellous.

Five are on display and they show originality and insight as well as good technique.

All stand out against a plain white background which gives the colours a vivid sharpness and strength.

Gombey II captures perfectly the raw energy of the typical dancer and -- head-on -- captures the surreal menace of a highly-mobile over-decorated Christmas tree wielding an axe.

The third in the series is almost impressionistic in style with horizontal slashes of colour only suggesting a dancer inside the costume rather than a primeval life force on its own.

And the pick of the series, Gombey IV, captures the manic quality of the dance with the costume disintegrating into spots and blobs of bright colour.

But into every life a little rain must fall -- although, not, apparently, in Ms Elgey's rose-tinted view of Bermuda.

For the Gombeys stand out even more against too much work which -- although attractive -- is a wee bit bland and insipid and, I think, represents commerce rather than art. Not that there's much wrong with that, of course.

One of her best works isn't of Bermuda at all, but the English county of Kent.

Groombridge Place -- captures the soft-edged, mellow glow of old stone and the gentle sagging of an ancient roofline beautifully.

And Mrs. Bean's Primary 4 Class, Warwick Academy, is a deceptive simple, delicately coloured work which, again, shows good use of white space.

Simple slashes of pink and green show kids in the water and the inclusion of her six-colour pallette in the corner is strongly reminiscent of art class -- a nice, nostalgic touch for many of us.

Banana Plant points up her light, modern use of colour -- again highlighted by a plain background.

And -- previous criticism notwithstanding -- it must be said her view of Verdmont, stronger in colour and sharper edged than most of her work, bursts out of its frame of palm trees like it just growed and growed.

But Ms Elgey, a regular visitor to Bermuda, should spent more of her next trip cruisin' back of town than Strolling Along the South Shore ($685 framed).

We might all learn something then.

Raymond Hainey REVIEW REV