HIS SUBJECTS were many and varied, but they had one thing in common - they captured vivid and beautiful images of life Jamaican life - from landscape to people to greenery and sunlight. Michael Lester found his inspiration in Jamaica and spent many years painting.

In recognition of his fine work, the National Gallery of Jamaica has mounted an exhibition, aptly entitled Picturing Paradise. The exhibition, curated by Dr. David Boxer was opened on Sunday May 28 and will run through to July 8.

He was born Michael Leszczynski in Poland in 1906. Though he was born far from the sea, he spent most of his working life in the British and Polish navies. In 1953, he settled in the hills overlooking Montego Bay. During his time at sea he had been able to indulge his extraordinary talent for painting and watercolour and already had an international artistic reputation when he arrived in Jamaica.

Michael Lester painted those aspects of Jamaica that most appeal to foreign and domestic tourists. Not surprisingly, he also did advertising work for the Jamaica Tourist Board and many of his works were acquired for resort houses and hotels.

HIS WORK IMPRESSES

Some people may conclude that his work embodies a foreigner's view or a tourist aesthetic often at variance to what Jamaicans experience or value in their own country, but his work impresses Jamaicans and visitors alike.

"He was definitely tourist-oriented in his use of colours and subjects but he had great integrity as an artist. It seems to me he was committed to painting for himself," says Jamaican artist Oneika Russell.

He and his wife Peggy became familiar fixtures in the social life of Montego Bay. He was known as 'Mr Nose' by the locals because of his very large, broken nose. "Michael was extraordinary," recounts Barbara Eldemire. "He was a wonderful free spirit, a brilliant artist and raconteur. Joseph Conrad was his favourite author for all the obvious reasons: Poland, sea travel and the life of exile.

A FLAMBOYANT MAN

He was a very flamboyant man and everybody was his friend. He sat down with kings and peasants. People sometimes spoke of him as 'the illustrator' but I think that might have been envy. I always found his work very exciting. There is so much colour in his work, with Michael, the life came through from behind the colour. It is almost like backlighting. But he could also see the things that other people didn't see. I recently gave my son one of his watercolours. It's of a hotel kitchen: On the table there are all these marvellous Jamaican fruits and then there is this boy sitting there eating a banana, goofing off.

"I never met the man but I know he was a wonderful character and there are many great stories about him," says Hugh Dunphy of the Bolivar Gallery. "But it's definitely his superb draughtsmanship that stands out. It's a rare quality.

Lester was once asked why he changed his name to 'Lester', he responded "Please, try to pronounce Leszczynski."

Michael Lester died in 1972.