ELEMENTS is the title of a new two-man exhibition of paintings featuring the work of Mark Abdey and Ian Pethers, which opened at Tavistock?s Mayflower Galleries this week.

Both artists grew up in the Thames Valley and took to painting at an early age, spending their holidays in the West Country where they became inspired by the unique character of the area.

During the intervening years they have developed their current styles through a series of transitions; Mark experimented in oils, painting large scale landscapes in intricate detail with colours influenced by the pre-Raphaelites. These took months to complete. His work is now in watercolour on a smaller scale retaining detail and colour, and being shown at select galleries in Devon.

Ian, through a job as relief lock-keeper on the Thames, produced over 100 ink and watercolour paintings of the river, culminating in his first major work ?Unloading coal at Romney Lock? which was exhibited and sold at the Royal Society of Marine Artists? 1985 exhibition in London?s Mall Gallery.

He later became elected to the Society of Botanical Artists for his studies of gardens and flowers and is now an associate member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers.

Both artists live in the West Country, Ian in a cottage overlooking the Tamar Valley while Mark has a studio in a converted loft in his Tiverton home.

The exhibition displays images demonstrating various elements of technique, subject matter and size.

A new print of Tavistock from an original by Ian Pethers has been launched at this event, which is open daily except Sunday until October 19 at Mayflower Galleries, 21 West Street, Tavistock.