Visions of summer

Beaches bake under a clear blue sky, bleaching sunlight shines down on white piers that arc out into clear seas where pleasure boats lie calmly moored. The scene will be familiar to anyone who has been to a quiet corner of the Med on holiday, and this vision of summer is portrayed by rising Oxford artist Alexis Daras in his new show. The Jericho-based 30-year-old is celebrating after his untitled series of Greek scenes emerged as a British winner of an Arts Council competition.

Daras has been rewarded with an exhibition running at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, which finishes today, and says he is delighted to represent the UK, especially considering the fierce competition he faced.

"Last year there was a crazy number, 500 or more artists who entered," said Alexis. "You have to send off images of your work, it then gets put to an open vote in the Arts Council, so all the people who work there will vote on whose work they like and who they think they should show."

He also says that he feels honoured to have been selected to show in the main foyer of the building, one of the prime areas.

"A lot of buildings will accept work, simply to have something on show, but this is the first time I have had to enter a competition to have this kind of exhibition."

The immediately striking note to the series, which is also being shown at Covered Arts in Oxford, is the incredibly realistic quality to the painting. At times the work is almost photographic, capturing tiny details that strike the eye, the curl of knots in white rope, shadow on shingle, a towel left out to dry or the foam of a wave.

Daras has also worked as a professional photographer and the influence of this experience is evident in the carefully considered composition of the pieces. He explained that it is also important to him that his work remain accessible, and this consideration extends into his technique. "One of the strengths, the things that got my work selected is that it doesn't have an exclusive side to it, it is realist painting, and so it's very, very accessible to anyone really."

Daras also believes that the Greek setting allows the artist access to a palette that underpins the quiet drama of the series, as striking whites contrast with deep shadow and the alternate blues of sky and sea interact.

"I'm of Greek lineage so I do feel quite a strong connection to it, but the area has a fantastic art history behind it and a great quality to the light, plus the colours you can capture there."

The young painter has previously shown work at Modern Art Oxford and says that initial reactions to this new series have been very positive.

"I was very pleased, there was nice space between all of the paintings and it looked quite airy . . . even as I was putting it up I got a couple of tres jolie and even a c'est magnifique which was quite a confidence booster."

He was also delighted with the cohesion of the collection around its central images such as a the mystery dark lady enigmatically placed in the mid-distance.

"I wanted to put on an exhibition that hung together as a series, rather than just show everything that I have done or everything that I have. All the works were linked by theme.

"The Greek series is being shown alongside the winner of the French arm of the competition, something that has been complementary.

"The work was quite different, and she was doing large impressionistic flower pieces . . . there was an obvious divide in the room but as they were also natural scenes they did actually work quite well together."

There were also some reminders of home among the audience of top European politicians.

"It was quite strange being introduced to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who it turns out has a house near Adderbury, and ambassadors and such saying hello was quite odd for me, and it turns out the President of the Art Society at the council used to live in Abingdon."

As to the future, Daras says that he would like to do further portraiture, a specialism of his at university, but would also like to exhibit his work more extensively in Oxford and beyond.

"Given the majority of images are of Greece I'd like to have an exhibition there, but in Oxford I think the scene is getting better. The Ovada gallery is very nice and there are new galleries opening up and new opportunities, things like the Oxford Open that Modern Art Oxford ran was a fantastic and a really, really interesting show."

A selection from the competition winning show is on display at Covered Arts in the Covered Market, Oxford, this month and in August.