Mostly Watercolours, showcasing local artists Trisha Scarlett Milne and Heather Wilkinson, runs July 16-Aug. 3 at the Pearl Ellis Gallery in Comox.

The artists are friends with much in common: both are excited by watercolour, have travelled widely, live in the Comox Valley and winter in La Manzanilla, Mexico.

Trisha Scarlett Milne, a Comox Valley resident since the early 1980s, began using watercolour 20 years ago. Painting as Trisha Scarlett Montague, she had Blue Door Studio in Cumberland from 2002-2005 and was active in the local and provincial art community during that time while selling and receiving recognition for her work.

Grazing in Yalepa by Trisha Scarlett Milne is one of the paintings on exhibit at Pearl Ellis Gallery. Photo supplied

In 2005, she began teaching overseas focussing more on teaching and less on painting. She lived in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Myanmar and more recently, Mexico. Milne鈥檚 strong watercolors depict landscapes and people in British Columbia and the countries where she has lived. She paints at Juniper Studio near Point Holmes.

Heather Wilkinson has lived in the Comox Valley since 1995, working as a school counsellor, while also gardening, hiking, skiing, cycling, singing, dancing and enjoying the bounty of the valley. Retired now, Wilkinson finds joy and beauty in moments of connection with people and places. She has photographed many of these moments.

In 2013, Wilkinson began painting, mostly watercolours, mostly from her own photos. Her portraits are remarkable, capturing the emotion in the faces and, particularly, the eyes of her subjects.

A reception will be held on Saturday, July 20 from 1-3 p.m. The artists will be in attendance and everyone is welcome.

The Pearl Ellis Gallery is located at 1729 Comox Avenue in Comox. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday/Monday. Admission is free.

For more information about the gallery, and to see a virtual display of the exhibition, visit