`Whimsical Palette' is the title of a solo exhibition which opens to the public in the small gallery of the Bermuda Society of Arts at City Hall on Thursday.

Dana Cooper, art director of RG Magazine, will be displaying around 30 pieces of her recent work. Included in the show of "small works'' are some of her original water colour illustrations for `Rainbow', a children's book produced last Christmas with author Roxana Kaufmann. There will also be etchings done while she was living in New York, and a selection of general watercolours.

"I am excited about having my show in the new, small gallery, which I think is a great addition to the local art scene. It is the perfect setting for a small body of work. I think the Bermuda Society of Arts is doing a great job in supporting artists in this way and giving them valuable exposure.'' Noting that large gallery spaces can be intimidating for some artists, she says, "There is a nice sense of freedom with this little gallery. You can experiment, and test the market and public opinion without going to a lot of expense.'' Ms Cooper attended the Bermuda High School for Girls before obtaining her degree in Fine Arts from the Parsons School of Design in New York. She then went on to the National Academy of Design where she studied etching and won the Edward Mooney Award, a travelling scholarship, awarded for her first book, `My Bermuda ABC'. She also spent a summer at Rhode Island School of Design, studying print-making.

"I've been doing prints ever since I was in High School, but I think my favourite medium is pen and ink -- and watercolour. Art for me has always been very therapeutic. When I get an idea, I have to get right on to it!'' `Whimsical Palette' opens at the Bermuda Society of Arts Small Gallery on Thursday, April 28 and runs through May 9.

CHILDREN'S ARTIST Ms Dana Cooper.