Four Maltese paediatricians who paint in their limited free time have joined up to exhibit their works as a group for the first time during Notte Bianca on 6 October 2007 in Valletta. Calling themselves the Painting Paediatricians, the group is composed of Professor Simon Attard Montalto, Dr Marthese Ellul, Dr Victor Grech, and Dr Anton Mifsud.

Using various media and displaying different genres, the Painting Pediatricians will display circa 35 paintings between them, at Palazzo Catellania or, as it is more commonly known, at the Health Ministry, in Merchants Street, Valletta.

Professor Attard Montalto has enjoyed painting since early childhood when, at the age of 7, his impromptu graffiti on a school wall did not meet the expected approval of the supervising nuns. His penchant for doodling extended to his school desktop and copybooks at college. At university, he tried to conform somewhat and many of his (more recent) drawings were designed on the back of notepads during boring lectures. “Perhaps this would explain the overall surrealistic nature of my ‘cranky’ paintings, as described by my wife,” he says, half-jokingly. He has dabbled with pencil sketching and watercolours but prefers oil on canvas. He has never had any form of formal art instruction and simply paints for fun. Otherwise, he works as Chairman of the Department of Paediatrics in Malta.

Working as a paediatric registrar, Dr Ellul started painting two years ago in the cellar of her parents’ home where she spends hours absorbed by the details of her still-life objects. Lately, she has also done some works of a more contemporary nature, however her favourite subject is still life, working mostly with acrylics on canvas. Next year she is planning to re-attend the School of Art as she had done last year, and concentrate more on landscape painting. Her exhibits include her first piece of work, and the painting of a single flower that came from a bouquet of flowers that her father had bought her. “I simply could not let them die before I had painted at least one,” she said.

Born in 1965, Dr Grech works as a consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric cardiology. He found painting Maltese landscapes and seascapes a particularly relaxing pastime. His preferred medium is oil on canvas with a painting knife. John Borg Manduca, the renowned Maltese impressionist artist, is his inspiration and mentor. Dr Grech’s paintings tend to be both impressionist and expressionist, and some of them can be viewed at www.maltaimpressions.com

Retired consultant paediatrician, Dr Mifsud is interested in archaeology and he authored a few publications on this subject. Taught by Debbie Caruana Dingli, he believes that he has fared reasonably well.