Washington Mall Hamilton I caught a sneak glimpse of one of Victoria Hensen's paintings a few months ago and didn't really know what to make of it.

The 20 paintings in this show all depict local scenes and traditional pastimes, all in a brilliant shimmering light.

Sounds all too familiar? Well there the similarities with other artists currently working on the Island end. Hensen's work is certainly different and stands out from her contemporaries.

It is interesting that Hensen has a doctorate in psychology and has worked with abused children. Her paintings are child-like but don't descend into the childish.

She offers the viewer a Utopian vision of the world that is free and innocent.

Her scenes, painted in a naive style, are filled with farmyard animals, blossoming gardens and crop-rich fields. There are smiling faces swimming, horse riding and flying kites.

Interestingly there is very little evidence of modern life. No cars or motorbikes, no electricity cables, no high rise office blocks. Instead her paintings transport you back in time, or rather they take you to a place that is timeless, yet still recognisable as Bermudian.

Although Hensen has a naive technique, she manages to render sea, boats, hills and houses convincingly and simply. There are no dark shadows to help provide a sense of space, just warmth and light.

But it is her viewpoint that makes her work different. Although her compositions are balanced they have an unusual perspective. Looking at a painting you feel as though you are hovering a few hundred feet above the earth. I imagine it's a bit like having an out-of-body experience, very liberating and very pleasurable.

Nicholas Lusher has always been brave enough to promote the different and the original. This show is no exception.

Victoria Hensen's work opens to the public tomorrow and will be on display until Wednesday, July 29. Do try to go along, you'll feel as though a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.

Gareth Finighan ARTIST REVIEW ART REV