Miniatures For Christmas -- Windjammer Gallery *** My stomach had only just recovered from the various back flips, somersaults and other such acrobatics it had decided to perform during the long travel through the Bermuda Society of Arts Winter Show (of which more in an up-coming review) when the Windjammer's Susan Curtis kindly invited me to a sneak preview of this exhibition. It turned out to be just the tonic I needed.

What we have here is a selection of work from 19 very different but very competent artists who, as the title of the show explains, have each produced half-a-dozen or so works in miniature.

The key to the success of this show -- and it is truly enchanting -- is in the selection of the artists themselves. How this was done I have no idea, presumably they were hand-picked and personally invited rather than fortuitously having their names pulled out of a hat. Whatever the method, it's an inspired selection.

Each artist works in their own way, is clearly influenced and interested by and different things and focuses on different images. The result is an exhibition of enormous variety and depth which is, in the main, beautifully and originally executed.

There is perhaps another factor which makes this show such a delight. And there is the restriction that each artist is placed under in working on smaller canvases -- sometimes no bigger than a few square inches.

It certainly seems to help artists such as Maria Evers Smith who, I think can sometimes go a bit overboard when working on a larger scale. Her work here is tighter, more controlled and better for it, particularly in `St. George's colours'.

Show is just the tonic Nicholas Silk is a painter whose technique is more suited to smaller, more detailed compositions and his three compositions here show him at his best.

Bruce Stuart is an artist going through changes at the moment. He certainly seems to have loosened up his technique and completely changed his palette.

while two or his contributions to this show lack the quality of his earlier work, his six nocturnal scenes are highly original and an experiment that works. It's ironic that, while Bermuda's unique, strong light should be such a powerful force for artists, as it has done throughout the centuries, Stuart bravely turns his back on it.

I was delighted to see that Windjammer was able to secure the talents of two other artists who, in my opinion, don't get enough exposure. Actually that's not true of Helen Daniel, whose papier mache' sculptures and wonderful cartoon caricatures of playful animals can often be seen displayed at the Arts Centre at Dockyard.

Brilliant though they are, its good to see Daniel returning to a more naturalistic style influenced by life around her and her series of boat studies are gorgeous.

Diana Tetlow is definitely one artist who doesn't exhibit enough and it's always a pleasure to stumble across her work. Here she has produced a series of rich oils, mainly landscapes although not all of Bermudian scenes.

Who else? Well, we have Sheilagh Head working at her best, some wonderful atmospheric street scenes from Jonah Jones and some excellent sketches from Elmer Midgett.

Add to that Christopher Marsons's watercolours, a series of rich flower studies from Amy Evans and a wonderful collection of seascapes from Ms Curtis herself and the result is an eccletic mix of high quality work from some of the Island's top artists.

It's perhaps unfair with a show such as this to finish on a negative note -- so I'll get it in now. In fact there are two. Firstly, Diana Amos is perhaps one artist who doesn't work well on a smaller scale. Working in acrylics on broad canvases allows her to build up richly textured scenes -- tiny oils are not here strong point. It's not that Amos' work here is bad, it's just not as brilliant as it usually is.

The other disappointment is Eric Amos, who really shouldn't be in this show at all. That's by no means meant as an insult -- he's in some very good company -- but his work does rather let the side down.

Still, as one swallow doesn't make a summer, one turkey doesn't make a bad show. The Windjammer also deserves credit for the way in which this show is presented. Now more than 100 pieces from 19 different artists might sound like rather a lot of work given the confines of the gallery itself. But with the work being beautifully framed, and with each artist having their own wall space, the viewer can glide effortlessly through this exhibition.

I'm not sure if a closing date for this show has been set but I do know that it runs through Christmas. If you have an opportunity to visit Windjammer before then than do so.

If you don't have an opportunity then make one -- you won't be disappointed.

It is perhaps fitting that, with all the hype surrounding the approach of a new millennium, 1999 should close on such a high note.

`Miniatures for Christmas' is certainly one of the highlights of the year.

The Boathouse: This painting by Diana Tetlow is one of the highlights of the show `Miniatures For Christmas' at the Windjammer Gallery.