FOUR paintings by a Monmouth teacher form part of a Wales-USA art exhibition in Cardiff.

The paintings by Jane Boswell, who exhibits under her maiden name of Greenslade, feature among the work of ten other artists which is on show at the Art Education Gallery on the Cyncoed campus of the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, until Friday, June 8. Mrs Boswell's work hangs alongside that of other teachers and artists from South Wales and Skidmore College in New York.

Mrs Boswell, 39, is the head of art at Monmouth Comprehensive School. Mrs Boswell said her work, which is in the abstract form and influenced by two scenes of the River Severn near Lydney and two American views, explores the action of reflected light on water, land and buildings.

Her work, she said, has developed from being representational and pursues the visualisation of the "essence of a place".

She said: "My pursuit of essence has led me at times towards a more abstracted approach."

Mrs Boswell trained in Fine Art at Loughborough College of Art and Design and at Goldsmiths College, University of London was awarded a Skidmore Art and Design Fellowship in 1997.

She has been head of art at Monmouth Comprehensive School since 1995 and has exhibited in Bristol, Boston (USA), Leominster and Hereford.

Also included in the exhibition will be 15 photographs depicting Welsh, American, Irish, and French architecture and landscapes by Trevor Scott.

Mr Scott, former head of art at King Henry VIII School, Abergavenny, is now an assistant staff tutor in the education school and student services manager with the Open University.