CANVASES bearing 'layered veils of colour' will soon be draped at Malvern Theatres.

That's how Stratford-based oil artist Howard Watson describes his works, around 40 of which will adorn the walls on both floors at the complex from Sunday.

The Radiant Abstraction exhibition has been organised by the Cowleigh Gallery and is Howard's first at the theatres. For him, it is the culmination of 10 years' work.

"It represents a lifetime's passion in painting," he said. "It's the first time I've had the opportunity to do anything on that scale."

Howard had traditional training at Coventry School of Art, mainly specialising in life drawing.

"I could see that painting was moving towards pure abstraction in the 50s and thought that's got to be the direction to go in. It's the purest form of painting, it gives you complete freedom," he said.

Despite his formal training, he said there was not an exact science to his work.

"I don't predict how it's going to be, you're just happy that it works. A lot of the paintings are accidents. I've already decided what the main colours are going to be, then you're almost controlled by the colour. They are designed to be tranquil and quiet."

Dressed all in black, Howard made a stark contrast to the vivid colours in his work.

"I prefer to concentrate on the work," he explained. "I'm very much secondary. All I'm interested in is producing the work."

Howard has high hopes for the exhibition.

"I want to completely take over the whole building so that it's an amazingly powerful presence," he said.

"I'm really hoping to make an impact. It's one of the places that you have great pleasure inviting anybody into. I'm hoping the work is going to complement what's already here."