This artist has an exceptional talent for depicting atmospherics. He can paint land, sky and sea in a manner that provides the viewer with the perfect settings for their own thoughts and/or memories. For example, although I have never ridden a jet ski, I have seen many a stunning sunset sky and clear water chop like those depicted in The Searcher. And there lies the problem. While trying to engage with the mood and beauty of the painting, I was distracted by the visual noise of the jet ski.

Michael Doherty manipulates his medium beautifully to capture the essence of the environment. His suite of paintings on Heirisson Island, seen at different times of day and night in different seasons, attests to the artist's strengths. Although relatively small they are quite powerful works that invite and reward the viewers. Heirisson Island - Dawn draws our attention with its bold colours. Here rows of golden clouds mirror the rich sun colours reflected in the river. The sky still holds the heat of the day in Warm Evening - Heirisson Island while the landscape is a collection of refreshing colours that provides a setting for any playful daydream we care to conjure up. And Dreamy Night - Heirisson Island  is a stunning image with it's sunset colours still clinging to earth and clouds as the sky darkens and stars begin to show.

There are a few works in this series that offer evidence of the civilization that surrounds this island. The Burswood Hotel looms like an Aztec pyramid in the distance of East Heirisson Island and the skyline of Perth is seen in Heirisson Island - Summer. This is all well and good as these structures are very much a part of the environment. However, although a large cyclist straining his muscles and a tiny aeroplane hovering in the sky may well be part of the landscape, their presence in the paintings, like the above mentioned jet ski, invades our contemplative space. The images would be the better without them. But to be fair it is the presence of a lone figure sitting high atop a surf lifesaver's chair, with his back to us and staring out to sea, that creates the mood in Head in the Clouds. Here the figure provides a scale indicator as he and the container ship on the horizon are dwarfed by majesty of the painted sea and sky.

Doherty's expertise is in providing mood with colour alone, there is no need to offer a narrative. This is most beautifully noted in Night View of Rottnest, a peaceful little work where bands of blue tones are enlivened by a horizon line composed of far-away specks of light. Meanwhile the horizon between stormy sky and choppy sea is barely distinguishable in Winter Front - Cottesloe Beach, a powerful little painting that needs no one to indicate it's time to seek home and hearth.