Professional artist Sheilagh Head believes art should be "life-enhancing" – a philosophy which is shared by the many who admire and own her work, both here and abroad.

How fitting, then, that tomorrow's opening of her solo exhibition at the Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation's Elliot Gallery in Devonshire should not only take place during Heritage Month, but also be yet another fine chapter in her mission to capture so much of Bermuda's beauty on canvas before it vanishes completely.

A mixture of landscapes, seascapes and abstracts, the 36-strong collection of oil paintings portrays the Island in a palette as varied and colourful as the moods of Mother Nature herself. Vibrant blues, reds and corals vie with restful greens and soft golds for the viewer's attention, all of them skilfully used to stir the senses and applied with élan – for which there is a reason.

"I have had a very good year," Mrs. Head says. "I became a grandmother and I think my painting has become more joyful as a result."

Regarding the abstracts in the show, while the artist is no stranger to painting these, she is also aware that there are those who prefer her more traditional style, and she is happy to acknowledge both with equanimity.

"There is no difference between abstracts and figurative painting, one leads into the other," she assures.

"Art really is something for everybody. It is up to you to make your own judgments and decisions – whatever pleases you. The joy of art is that there are no rules of what is right or wrong. If it has meaning for you as a viewer and it stirs your conscience, then it has something to say for itself. Art can be so many different things. It does not have to be pleasing, but I hope mine is, because that is my particular focus."

Contending that there is so much pretentious nonsense talked about art, as in the current thinking that artists should "challenge themselves", the seasoned professional painter makes clear she is not a subscriber.

"If you want to know what 'challenge' is about, take a canvas down to the beach, sit there, let the landscape be all around you, and then try to capture one tiny part of what is before you," she says.

An active member of the Plein Air Group, which regularly paints together, Mrs. Head values the sense of connection with other Bermuda artists and takes pleasure in watching them develop.

Similarly, she enjoys her associations with the Boston arts scene and its artists. "Painting with them, you realise that there is a much larger world than what is going on on this tiny Island, but having said that, Bermuda has been extraordinarily good to me throughout my career and I am grateful."

Indeed, hard though it is to imagine, there was a time when, having not painted for five years, the highly successful artist's self-confidence was tentative.

"When I first came to the Island, I remember going to see a Stephen Masters exhibition, which was so painterly. Then I saw some of John Kaufmann's work, which I loved, and then I went to a Sam Morse-Brown workshop.

"I was sitting there absolutely terrified when he came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, 'You can really paint'. At that time I really needed someone to believe in me."

Asked what draws her to a painting, Mrs. Head said sometimes it is simply a case of standing in front of a canvas and letting her brain take over.

"It is a freedom. You often stand back and think, 'I wonder where that came from? Who painted that?' You are letting your brain be very, very free."

She admits, however, that painting is a slow process for her, and she hopes her paintings are reflective of the way she feels about the subject, rather than attempting to copy what is in front of her.

"I have lost three close friends in the last thee years – friends who encouraged me and whom I miss deeply. However, I still fee that art celebrates life, and I hope my paintings will be seen in that context."

In terms of subject matter, the artist says many of them are beach-related because she is particularly fond of the beach in winter. "I love the sand dunes and that lovely winter growth, which then dies off. There is a lovely sense of connection in the way it all undulates."

Small wonder, then, that the concept of building a bar at Warwick Long Bay fills her with such horror – and a further sense of urgency to capture on canvas the natural beauty that is rapidly being eroded.

"With my love of dunes, the idea of desecrating Warwick Long Bay is absolutely appalling," she says. "In fact, part of what I am doing as an artist is painting Bermuda to preserve what is fast disappearing."

¦ Following tomorrow evening's official opening, the Sheilagh Head exhibition will continue through May 26. For gallery hours/further information see the Bermuda Calendar