An art exhibition at on show at Narberth Museum is inspired by people who have written about the futility of war.

The Painted Word: War & Peace by Alec Lewis draws inspiration from singers, philosophers, poets and writers who have had something to say about war. Images range from Plato, Nelson Mandela, George Orwell, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen and Leonard Cohen, to name but a few.

Trained at Maidstone College of Art and having spent many years as Art Director and Creative Director in the advertising world, Alec is a well known locally based painter who has previously had solo exhibitions at the Torch Theatre, Tenby Museum and Art Gallery and the Gate Gallery St Clears and has also contributed to several joint shows including at Oriel Q in Narberth. Much of his work reflects his interest in the written word, whether it’s in music, poetry, myth or legend, and the people that have influenced his life.

The relationship between words and images fascinates and inspires Alec. He says of his artistic process: “I begin my process by reflecting on a lyric, poem or quotation that has spoken most forcibly to me and risen above the daily cacophony of distractions and piqued my imagination.

“By combining these words with the images they provoke in me, I hope to share this resonance with the individual viewer, at once both offering the words to their unique relationship with them, with how I respond to them. So, in that way, it’s a shared experience between me as the artist, and the person in front of my work.”

A good number turned out on Friday, January 17 for the opening of the new exhibition, which was officially opened by Mark Lewis.

The exhibition is open to the public and runs until March 1.