A FEAST of colour is promised to all who visit a new exhibition, by two Pembrokeshire artists in Tenby.

Belinda Lloyd Bird was born to an artistic family in Aberystwyth in the 1960s and left Wales for London in 1977 to model for two top fashion houses. She then became one of the last iconic 'bunny-girl' croupiers at the Park Lane Playboy Club. Later she travelled extensively through Europe and North Africa establishing a successful restaurant in Gibraltar.

Her return to Britain, marriage and the birth of terminally-ill Rebecca brought different challenges, but the need to be creative flourished through the production of commissioned craftwork. After the death of her daughter, and the birth of perfectly healthy Charlotte, Belinda found enormous reward in teaching children with special educational needs.

Belinda remains resolutely self-taught, with a purist, even isolationist, style. She took the art foundation course at Haverfordwest, and resisting offers to study fine art and sculpture at Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff, she worked on her own there, becoming a print room technician for a period of time.

One tutor, Steve Wilson inspired her drawing and two artists Howard Hodgkins and the late Dorothea Tanning continue to influence her use of colour and fluid style.

Thoughts, memories and experiences, "a fleeting glimpse of an irregular shape or a flash of intense colour or light may trigger the ideas for my painting," said Belinda. The idea may remain in the planning stage for a long time before paint meets paper. "Generally what emerges is a lot stronger than I visualised."

Paintings are worked on over many weeks, sometimes put away and returned to much later. As her work has matured it has become larger, more experimental and more fluid in texture and colour.

"Of late colour has become a dominant factor making my work lighter and airier."

She has exhibited throughout Pembrokeshire in joint, group and solo exhibitions.

Originally from Montgomeryshire, Ronda Thomas lived in Devon and Somerset before settling in Pembrokeshire, where she now lives with her husband and son. She has been painting and exhibiting her work for some years before she entered the Tenby Arts Festival Open Art Competition in September 2001, and won the first prize, against stiff competition, with her acrylic on tissue paper painting entitled 'Kitchen Corner'.

Ronda is a versatile artist who produces a wide variety of quality work in a range of media, including watercolour, acrylic paint and acrylic ink. Much of her work is inspired by the "wonderful colours in the Pembrokeshire land and seascapes."

She also produces atmospheric and detailed studies of ancient buildings, Carew Castle being a favourite subject, and colourful floral paintings. Among her influences she cites Turner, Piper and a number of the Old Masters.

Ronda has exhibited regularly with Pembroke Arts Club and in group shows at venues throughout Pembrokeshire. She has also had solo exhibitions in galleries in Trevine and Fishguard in recent years.

Together the two artists have produced 'A Feast of Colour' - an exhibition of original paintings and hand-made prints, representing their respective ranges of subject matter and a variety of styles and media.

The exhibition at Art Matters in Tenby starts tomorrow (Saturday) and continues until Friday, April 25, 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday. Telephone (01834) 843375 for more information.