Nick Minugh's first solo exhibition, 'Faces of Bermuda', which opens tonight at the Common Ground Café on Chancery Lane, will not be a traditional line-up of instantly recognisable local citizens.

Instead, the graphic designer has chosen to create 13 pieces in his favourite style – abstract – for his debut.

Why? Because "it leaves imagination to the viewer", Mr. Minugh said. "It gives me such a rewarding feeling to create something that does not exist, that's truly unique, and one-of-a-kind – like us as Bermudians. I hope my 'Bermuda Faces' captures this."

The artist has been interested in art for as long as he can remember, and as an elementary and high school student had a busy sideline designing book covers for fellow students' reports.

Later, he studied graphic design at George Brown College in Toronto and has been working in his chosen field for 15 years. Currently, he is a member of the creative team at Advantage Ltd., to whom he pays tribute for their inspiration and support.

Others who have inspired Mr. Minugh along the way include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, well-known Bermudian professional artist Robert Bassett; his wife Kari, and his children, eight-year-old Leah and two-year-old Aidan.

"Robert inspired me when I was younger, and still inspires me today," he says. "I would visit his gallery on Reid Street and admire all of his work. He paints with so much emotion. He would also give me pep talks to encourage me to keep painting, and for this I thank him."

In fact, Mr. Minugh's cover design of a gombey for a past edition of the Bermuda Telephone Directory might be said to reflect this friendship.

In terms of his family, the artist says his wife "has helped me so much with her ideas, listening and encouragement", while daughter Leah "is also a good critic – she tells it to me straight, good or bad!"

As for little Aidan, while he might be attracted to the colourful works, it is his father's job to "make sure he is not near the canvas, otherwise I would have to say: 'No, that's not a hole in the art, that's meant to be there – an effect!'"

Asked what inspired his exhibition theme, 'Faces of Bermuda', Mr. Minugh says, "I guess the simple answer is here – that we live in paradise. It is a beautiful Island, and people are surrounded by this incredible backdrop. Plus, Bermuda is shifting through some changes, so perhaps my art depicts this, in a way, through its unique style. I am trying to show different and progressive thinking. Each face is full of colour, just like us. Not black or white. Bermudian faces they are indeed – complex (and) multi-faceted."

Although the digital work is computer generated, the artist likens the process to traditional painting.

"Instead of a blank canvas you start with a blank screen, but the computer does not do the work for you, the artist does it. I do many, many sketches until I get the flow and shapes to perfection, and then they are rendered freehand on the computer. I then incorporate textures, colours and layers to add depth and feeling in order to bring my faces to life and introduce them to Bermuda. Basically, this is the same approach applied to my traditional painting on canvas."

Though purists might regard digital art with some disdain, Mr. Minugh makes no apologies for the modern genre. "I feel digital art is a new technology, and another medium, which should get the same respect as any other medium an artist must master," he says. "With art, you can't please everyone. Just having a show is a success to me."

Mr. Minugh has dubbed his debut exhibition 'Series 01' because he hopes to have future shows, "both digital and traditional".

Meanwhile, he is grateful to all those who have helped to bring this one to fruition, including the Freisenbruch-Meyer Group, Colour Lab, Advantage Ltd., Island Press, Canvas Works and Common Ground.

'Faces of Bermuda' continues through November 18. Admission is free. Tonight's opening reception is from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., and all are welcome.