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ARTIST Tejbir Singh believes his move to the kingdom from India has helped him rediscover his talent and start to paint again.
Now a selection of his work entitled 'Bahrain Images' is being shown at Lina's CafŽ in the Diplomatic area.
Mr Singh, 45, now living in Umm Al Hassam, explained: "When I first came here in April 1998 I was alone and my family was back home in India. I had a lot of free time so took up painting again.
"As an artist, if you don't work for a long period you tend to get rusty ... you don't develop in your art. So now I intend to force myself to make time and to paint more."
An architect by profession, he is currently exhibiting 31 paintings.
The exhibition comes after a break of five years. Shortly after moving to Bahrain from India, he held his first solo-exhibition in 1999 at the Ideas Gallery in Adliya. Two years later, he held his second exhibition at the same venue.
Prior to starting a new life in the Middle East he spent a few years in New Delhi, India, where he staged his first solo-exhibition at the AIFFACS gallery.
In 1990, one of his paintings depicting 'unity for all religions' was selected for an exhibition entitled - World Council for Religions in San Francisco.
He has also spent three years in the UK where, while studying and working, some of the art galleries acquired his paintings. But Bahrain has proved particularly inspirational.
"As an architect, I regularly visit sites across the island and this gives me ideas for subjects for my paintings. I am in awe of the beauty of heritage buildings ... especially archaeologically rich structures.
"I also feel the Grand Mosque in Juffair is one of the most beautiful architectural structures on the island and hope to draw it someday."
His latest offerings on display depict various forms and traditions of Bahrain including dhows, modern structures, seascapes, coffee shop activities, portraits of veiled Arabic women, roadside musicians and palm trees.
At the entrance of the exhibition is a painting showing one half of a smiling face, showering a warm welcome.
One of the more unique creations of Mr Tejbir is a portrait he made of late Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.
"I came across his picture once and I found his face very attractive."
Mr Singh has dedicated this exhibition in loving memory of his mother.
Hailing from the Indian city of Patiala in the north, his brush to creativity began with inspiration from his mother, Darshan Kaur, who always encouraged him to draw and enter competitions.
Family plays an important role in his life and amongst his paintings is one colourful water painting.
He explained: "This is my 11-year-old daughter, Rasneet Kaur's, first exhibit. I added one of her paintings to my exhibition to help encourage her in art."
His son, Harjyot Singh, a student of class 10 at the Indian School in Isa Town, is keener on pursuing finance and his wife, Chandan Preet Kaur, 43, is a training manager at BIRD.
He said: "Bahrain has, I feel, of late picked up on the art scene. It's a place where even amateurs like me get a chance to exhibit their work and grow."
In the future, Mr Singh hopes one day to open a gallery back home in India to encourage and promote young artists.
