Two of the Island's best-known artists come together tonight to showcase their work at an exhibition at the Bermuda Society of Arts.

Watercolourist Christopher Marson and oil painter Jonah Jones will open 'Oil & Water Revisited' tonight and have taken over the entire gallery. And, as always, the show has a predominating theme of water.

"My work has been pretty much watercolour for the past six months," said Mr. Marson. "I have been using more colour and increasing the contrast in my paintings and feel that they are stronger as a result."

He added: "I have also been drawing more and painting slower, trying to introduce a little more control."

Mr. Marson's work is on quarter sheets and half sheets and is done almost entirely on location.

"It was getting to the point where people would stop and say, 'didn't I see you painting up on White's Hill this morning?'"

On how the pair has always worked together, Mr. Jones said: "We continue to meet several mornings a week and paint together.

"I have been out every day, seven days a week, completing at least one location study and I think this is helping my studio work massively.

"We have approximately 85 pieces on display and that is a 50/50 split and we have rented the whole of BSoA including the Edinburgh Gallery to give our work space and respect."

Both thought the show would be a display of some of their strongest work to date. "We have a couple of our collectors flying in specifically for the show," added Mr. Jones.

He said he had been experimenting with the more subtle nuances of the behaviour of water and trying to capture its transparency.

"This 'looking in' concept was instigated by sessions on location with Chris where we have been standing at the harbour's edge painting together," he added.

"I have been trying to develop my edges, both subtle and hard and working on the neutral tones and tonal recession of fading into the distance.

"I enjoy the square format. It feels like a box with a lid that you use to trap in the energy of the painting."

Mr. Jones' final words were: "I don't want to sound pushy and boasty or anything, but I really think this is Jonah and Chris at the top of their game!

"We are both very excited and hope that people will come and see our endeavours."

n The show opens at 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at the City Hall Gallery and it closes on March 11. To preview their work or for more information visit the websites: www.chrismarson.com or www.jonah-art.com