English artist Millie Smith unveiled her first Maltese exhibition yesterday at Cettina Cafe, part of Luciano Restaurant in Valletta.
The 52-year-old only moved to Malta in April and has worked hard right up until last week to produce the eclectic display. Exhibiting a range of emotive, landscape-inspired paintings, the vibrancy of the collection is enhanced by Ms Smith's use of colour and natural materials like leather, grass and seaweed.
A member of The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, the artist's love affair with Malta began in 2001 when she visited the island with her husband. Of all the countries they had visited in the Mediterranean, the only place they could envisage living in was Malta and so they sold their Suffolk home and moved to the island with their son.
Ms Smith's artistic affiliation with Malta began when she made her first sale as a professional artist. A pastel piece depicting an Mdina street was the first item the artist sold in the UK. Coincidentally, the first place the artist and her husband visited when they came to the island was Luciano's restaurant and it will be the venue of her first Maltese exhibition.
Following a 21-year-career as a chef running her own business in the UK, Ms Smith's health began to deteriorate and she has found art to be therapeutic. Renowned for its emotive content, her work has formed the basis of a Houses of Commons debate on mental health.
A breath of fresh air in what can often be an elite industry, Ms Smith's experience as an interior designer in the UK fuelled her plight to bring art into the homes of ordinary people and her work can be purchased from as little as €35.
It was actually the restaurant owner's son-in-law Liam Mangion from Msida that suggested Ms Smith exhibit her work at the Malta restaurant. During one of her many visits to Luciano's, Ms Smith told Mr Mangion she was going to move to Malta. Knowing about her work as a gallery owner, artist and interior designer in the UK, it was the restaurant manager who suggested an exhibition at his premises. Removing the many pieces of artwork decorating the walls, Mr Mangion made room for her exhibition which is set to run until August 20 at this atmospheric venue.
Ms Smith will be painting outside Luciano's on July 25 and on August 1 and 8. She will be working from 7.30 p.m. onwards as part of BOV Streets Alive, a cultural celebration due to be held in Valletta at the end of the month.
The exhibition at Luciano's will run until August 20 from 7 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Anyone who is interested in purchasing her work or having art customised for their home or office should contact the artist on 2701 9950/7980 1870 or at milliesmith52@hotmail.com.