First exhibition by Paris-born painter

After years of swotting over books to join the legal profession, Valérie Bourimoff decided that her choice of career cramped her style and creativity, so she sought new pastures in the art world.

Working in public relations for fashion designers and art galleries in Paris, Ms Bourimoff was inspired to pick up a brush and let her imagination flow on canvas.

Her busy work schedule never allowed her much time to practise her passion, but after living in Malta for the past two years she has now put up her first exhibition.

Her work, on display at the new art gallery Artitude in Tigné Street, Sliema, is being exhibited until the end of the month.

Ms Bourimoff, 32, was born in Paris to a French mother and Russian father.

She derived a lot of inspiration from the artists who exhibited their work at the Parisian galleries and she has now adopted her own style of acrylics, which create an image of watercolours.

Her abstract paintings are a medley of pastel colours, portraying her affinity with soft colours which she believes are very relaxing and peaceful - a comforting image in the confusion of a fast-moving world.

"My colour palette is always covered in pastels. I shy away from blacks and deep colours," she said in an interview.

Ms Bourimoff has converted her dining room into her workshop and she enjoys painting during the day, making the most of the natural light, which beams on her canvas. She never sets off to paint with a specific subject in mind and lets her hands flow, guided solely by her mood and emotions.

However, she has to be inspired to put brush to canvas and she refuses to bow to the pressure of exhibition deadlines and painting just for the sake of notching up the number of paintings.

"I can go for a period of four weeks without painting, then complete three pieces in one go. Sometimes I can feel something is missing in a painting, so I can wait a few days until I perfect it," she said.

"I also don't want to create art as a job. Pressure doesn't bring out any results. I need time to expand and explore my work and abilities."

Ms Bourimoff's paintings are a resplendent array of colours and she takes great pleasure from hearing the different interpretations of her work - everyone sees something unique.

Artitude, which also exhibits works by upcoming artists, is open Tuesdays to Fridays between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday mornings.