Galleries this weekend.

Although former Government architect Mr. Mills is well known as a set designer for more than 20 local theatre productions, he only began "serious painting'' last year. Now, 40 watercolours, many of which reflect his love of boats and Bermuda's unique brand of architecture, will go on show.

Mr. Mills, who left Bermuda in March, returned here this summer to finish restoration work on his wooden yacht, Fabella, and to work on his paintings.

"I have always dabbled in watercolour, but have never really had time to pursue it seriously until last year. I became very interested in marine painting, but I also like to paint landscapes and houses,'' he says, adding that he is very attracted to the style of famous English watercolourist, Roland Hilder.

Paintings assembled for this show depict Bermuda, England and New England. Mr.

Mills trained as an architect at the Plymouth School of Art and after four years post-graduate work in Devon and Cornwall, he went off to work for the Zambia government, and then into private practice with "Triad'' architects in Kenya.

It was in Africa that Mr. Mills developed his interest in theatre design and set painting -- so when he arrived in Bermuda in 1984, his talents were eagerly sought after.

Noting that his first Bermudian set design was for Educating Rita, Mr. Mills has since worked on various BMDS and Gilbert & Sullivan productions, including Camelot and HMS Pinafore. He has designed six of the last nine sets for the BMDS annual pantomime.

The Heritage House exhibitions continues through September 3.

ONE-MAN SHOW FOR ENGLISH PAINTER -- Mr. Jon Mills, whose exhibition opens this week at Heritage House Galleries, is shown with one of his watercolours of the American fishing vessel Stephen Taber .