ARTIST, textile designer and children’s book author Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson is well known for her tropical and multicultural designs on resort-type clothing through Owen Rebecca Designs.

She set up this company with her husband Owen David Wilkinson in 1985 after graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York.

The mother of three subsequently moved to Pulau Pangkor, Perak, in 1995, where David designed and built their home and retreat Tiger Rock. Tiger Rock subsequently opened up for private rentals and has been voted one of the top 10 private villas in Asia.

In 1999, Rebecca and family moved to Penang, their current home. She established the Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang which includes a retail section and a museum.

Rebecca has been exhibiting her paintings, ceramics and jewellery in solo and group exhibitions since 1987. Her last show was in 1999.

She recently published her first of six children’s stories in the House of Lizards series, Natu the Cicak.

Her recent art work, My Tropical Mind, features her signature bright and colourful paintings of fantasy flora, fauna, fish and earthly spirits on canvas and handmade paper.

These works have been largely influenced by her trips to India (for pattern and colour), Myanmar (for layering and texture) and the Pacific Islands of Yap, Micronesia and Palau (for strong images of leaf shapes, greens, blues and fish).

This is her first attempt with large works on canvas using acrylic paints. All other works are on handmade white rag paper from Jaipur, India.

Her paintings have strong colours, produced by adding layers of pigment for richness, as well as multi-level textures and patterns.

Rebecca’s favourite painting subjects are plants, vegetation and fish which conjure up colour, patterns and movements, as well as her teenage fantasies of “noble savages”, mermaids and jungle spirits.

She said: “Ultimately my paintings are about me, what I like and what I care about. I am basically a happy person who loves anything to do with nature and I have a fascination with patterns and colours. It makes me feel good to put these images down on paper and canvas.”

My Tropical Mind opened on May 6 and will end on May 28. It showcases 25 of her recent works.

Galeri Seni Maya is located on the first floor of 12, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru. Call 03-2282-2069 or e-mail maya@mayagallery.com.my.

It is open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 11am to 7pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6pm. Admission is free. Find out more about the gallery at www.mayagallery.com.my.