Friday, September 3 2010

DERMOT LOUISON and Helen Drayton, both prominent artists, have collaborated on an exhibition entitled “Rhapsody in Art” which will open to the public on September 17, at 6 pm at the Chancery Lane Hotel Lobby, National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA)

Dermot Louison is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most gifted artists and certainly one of its most prolific.

Born Dermot Olivierre Louison, he left Trinidad in 1955 for England, and en route visited Barcelona and Genoa, where he visited the home of Christopher Columbus. In England he worked at various locations to earn his keep.

Having a strong interest in art from an early age he began painting seriously in London and entered the Sir John Cass School of Art. His “Woodman of Lizard Springs” was done entirely from memory of his home country and was bought by Professor Rufus King of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

In 1958 he visited France where he landed in Calais (by ferry) and cycled into Paris via Bologne. While in Paris, he visited the Louvre, following which he spent some time in Paris.

He returned to Trinidad in 1959 and started painting earnestly, subsequently travelling to Dominica where he met and married a Dominican and had three daughters. While in Dominica he travelled extensively through the Caribbean capturing the images of the peoples and cultures of the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, St Thomas, St Lucia and Barbados.

His work was exibited and sold throughout the islands and after settling in Trinidad he held numerous exhibitions. His forest scenes, and coastal scenery depicting Toco, Blanchiseuse and Grand Rivierre is well documented. Dermot can be described as a highly individualistic and complex personality, who shuns publicity, values his privacy and spends time hiking, fishing and painting in secluded parts of the island. His work is greatly sought after by art enthusiasts and are found on the walls of private collector and business institutions both local and international.

Helen Drayton is an Independent Senator and also, Adjunct Faculty Member – Arthur lok Jack Graduate School of Business University of the West Indies, Chairman – Caribbean Procurement Institute and Board Member - SERVOL Charitable Organisation.

She pursued most of her professional career with RBTT Financial Group where positions held included Member of the Board of Directors of RBTT Bank Limited, RBTT Trust Limited, RBTT Services Limited, Director Group Marketing and Corporate Communications, Director Group Human Resources, President ROYTEC and Chairman of Royal Bank Education Foundation.

Drayton is passionate about community service and has served on the Board/Council of: The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society, Blind Welfare Association, United Nations Small Grants Committee, Community Chest Limited, Blood Bank Association, and was also Chief Executive Officer of United Way Trinidad and Tobago. She has also served as Vice-President of the World Federation of the United Nations Association for two consecutive terms having been elected at the Plenary Sessions in Spain and Argentina, and was President of the United Nations Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Drayton is author of the book of poems Passages. She started painting many years ago in England and this is her second art exhibition.