The American artist H. Craig Hanna is holding his first solo exhibition in Malta entitled Right Outside my Window at the National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street, Valletta. Curated by Dennis Vella and running until 9 May, it is the first landscape exhibition in Hanna’s career as a figurative painter.

H. Craig Hanna has lived in New York City and London for the past 15 years, painting stylised, modern works with a strong cosmopolitan feel. His work has won awards at the National Portrait Gallery in London and also forms part of the private collections of international figures such as fashion designer Marc Jacobs, actress Drew Barrymore and British journalist Jonathan Dimbleby.

Hanna came to Malta in 2002 and has travelled between London and Valletta, painting in both cities, for the past three years. He has derived much inspiration from living near Grand Harbour and this began to influence his work in both studios.

“I started to see colour and composition in a new way, instead of making it up as most contemporary artists do. I couldn’t help but notice what was right outside my window.

“Living there changed me. I never thought I would paint landscapes until I came to live in Malta. Being an artist is like being a composer, you create a dynamic symmetry between what you see and what you want to say. The view across the harbour, at twilight, perfectly still, became a graphic Chinese silk screen and I would rush for my brush.”

Apart from his Grand Harbour scenes, Craig Hanna is also exhibiting several London landscapes, showing how, after his return to that city, he clearly looked at it in a different light.

The exhibition, which is sponsored by Emmanuel Delicata Wines and supported by Heritage Malta, is open daily between 9am and 4.30pm. Admission is free.