Malta's culture, heritage and unique characteristics have attracted a fair number of foreign artists to the island.

Known names such as Edward Lear, Victor Pasmore, George Large and Rigby Graham, a much-travelled artist from Leicester who, despite being perpetually engaged on a string of artistic and publishing projects, still found time to pay no less than seven visits. Mr Graham's watercolours, painted on the spot in all kinds of weather, capture the rugged beauty of the islands.

His tendency is to avoid touristic sites, and seek the more secluded places, to which he seems habitually drawn. The result is a series of mature compositions, often drawn from unusual angles, full of light and textures, a vivid depiction of our flora and our fast disappearing countryside. His love of nature leads to a celebration of colour, which in turn is a protest against encroaching development.

No wonder an art critic once likened him to "a war artist recording how we're blitzkrieging our own environment".

Victor Fenech, a leading poet, befriended Mr Graham 30 years ago and the two developed a relationship which brought about a collaboration on a number of projects, the latest one being a book on the artist, published recently by Miranda Publishers.

And to create the best background against which Mr Graham's work can be better appreciated, Mr Fenech has woven into his narrative snatches of Maltese history as well as references to places that the artist has captured so pointedly in his art.

Miranda Publishers hope this will be the first in a series of books about foreign artists who have made the Maltese Islands their artistic destination.