The unique talent of three members of a Fermanagh family is being showcased at a new exhibition at Enniskillen Castle Museums.

The exhibition which will be on display from December 1st to February 9th is entitled Three Ways of Seeing: Drawings, Paintings, Wood Assemblages.

The artists are Mavis Thomson and her two daughters Sydney and Marion. This is an exhibition of over 50 art works, many of which have never been exhibited before.

The art works on display offer the visitor an opportunity to experience a variety of styles and approaches to art. Sarah McHugh, Manager of Museum Services describes the exhibition as:

"A rich selection of artworks created by a very talented family. There are abstract pieces, wooden sculptural objects, Japanese inspired drawings and watercolours of Fermanagh, many of which will be for sale."

Mavis Thomson has painted figurative watercolour landscapes showing how Enniskillen has changed since the 1970s. She will also exhibit wooden sculptural pieces. Mavis is often inspired by music and she creates sculptural artworks from objects yielded from the sea. Sometimes these artworks are poignant, sometimes humorous - one sculpture is based on the Disney film 'Finding Nemo'. Speaking about her work, Mavis Thomson says: "I have always enjoyed a great love of the sea, shoreline and beach although it is only some 12 years ago that I became drawn to the idea of working with driftwood as a medium in my art. The excitement of collecting debris carried by the incoming tide and deposited along the shore soon disclosed an element of expectation and surprise!

In contrast, Marion Thomson's work is more minimalist and abstract; textured and intuitive. She approaches her art in such a way that it requires an intuitive or emotional reaction on behalf of the viewer. Artists such as Giorgio Morandi as well as Fermanagh-raised artist William Scott have inspired her. Speaking about her approach, Marion Thomson says:

"My drawings and paintings relate to the landscape sky, earth, and ocean. The paintings are intuitive, the image growing out of the paint almost unconsciously allowing the paintings to pick up on their own logic and direction. I enjoy a healthy dialogue with my work in that it's very much a two way thing...it works on me and I work on it."

Sydney Thomson is now based in Leiden in Holland where she runs a conservation studio. She has also worked at the British Museum where she was inspired by many of the Japanese and Chinese collections. Speaking about her art, Sidney says: "My influences have stemmed from my close involvement with the arts and culture of Japan and China. I've been very fortunate to have worked as a conservator on the Japanese collection at the British Museum and from this I have learned a great deal about Japanese painting. I have studied a very wide range of painting techniques from Zen ink brush painting to the sumptuous use of gold leaf on paintings displayed on six fold screens.

Ian Hill, critic, journalist and travel writer will officially launch the exhibition on Thursday 30 November at 8.00pm.