ART has always been a refuge for what cannot be expressed in words. And the Newport artists in a new touring exhibition at Newport Action for Single Homeless this week have a lot to say.

Paintback! collects work by refugees and asylum-seekers living in Newport. Aled Singleton, (pictured) secretary of Newport and District Refugee Support Group, said:

"The art class was begun as a place to meet with each other and produce the art and express their feelings, but we were so impressed by the work they did that we had to put this show on.

"It's paintings but a real mix of different things. People have painted pictures about how it affected them to leave their country and where they come from, but others just paint whatever they want to - flowers, people, and everything around them.

"There are also some stories from female refugees living in Newport. It's not a political thing. The artwork is just about communicating.

"It's an exhibition which is totally portable and can be taken all over Wales. We're going to tour it around Newport this summer, and we hope people across Wales will ask us if they can borrow it.

"It's a positive image and a different way of looking at the old debate. And it's a way for people who can't speak English to communicate with us." Paintback! is at the Pilot Project, 49 George Street, Newport, from 10am to 5pm today and tomorrow.