Artists in the Pilbara now have the opportunity to exhibit their work at a new exhibition location, the Karratha Airport, which services the heart of the Pilbara mining and resources industries. A 17 metre long wall, in the Arrivals area, provides an uncluttered, well lit space for exhibiting two dimensional pieces. The first local artist to be exhibited here is John Collis, a medical practitioner in Karratha, who began his adventure in painting when he enrolled in art classes at Karratha College in 1989.

A visual treat awaits passengers disembarking into the Pilbara heat. Having walked across the hot tarmac into the cool of the airport, one is confronted by a wall of colour. The eleven paintings and one digital print in Collis' first solo exhibition give a fascinating insight to the development of this artist's style from 1995 to 1999. During this period Collis has moved from painting in a representational style to experimenting with colour and shape in an abstract approach. Each artwork is accompanied by a brief explanation in the artist's own words which gives the viewer a valuable opportunity to learn more about his ideas and aims.

All the artworks have a strong sense of design and in each, the medium, often in bold colours, has been used skilfully. Several works deserve particular comment. In Jane the artist aimed to depict a sense of confusion and loss of direction. Through effective use of colour, composition and painting technique, Collis has successfully achieved this aim. Set against broad planes of warm pinks and red ochre, stands an indistinct shadowy figure, painted in mottled green. Broad brush strokes of colour criss-crossing over the canvas contribute to the overall effectiveness of this painting.

The elegant shapes and tones in Late Afternoon make this a painting to look at again and again. Interestingly, only this and one other painting, 829, are displayed with frames and in each case the frame is an integral part of the artwork. All the other works are unframed, contributing to their immediacy and directness.

Among the abstract works, Lies and Circular Pool stand out as highlights. In Lies Collis has created a visual delight based on music. Using four different melodies, Collis allocated a colour to each musical note, and "composed" this striking painting. Circular Pool is an absorbing expression through colour of the atmosphere at this popular destination in Karijini National Park.