ANYONE who has ever wanted to pick up a paintbrush and brandish it towards a canvas, take heart.

A group of women with not much artistic experience got together, started painting, did occasional workshops, called themselves Brushes of Eight, and then decided they needed professional tuition.

With their tutor on board, they began painting seriously and will now stage an exhibition at Noosa Marina from March 1 entitled To Each His Own.

"I've been teaching this group for five years and they have all come a huge way," tutor Pam Miller said.

"They are really producing professional work now."

Pam has taught at TAFE and university in NSW and now tutors from her Eumundi studio.

"Some (of the group) had done folk art before but others had never painted," she said

"I taught this group the same course I taught in NSW. They covered still life, landscapes, primitive art, figurative art and abstracts. They weren't allowed to do their own work until they had covered those (subjects.) I really steered them. It's only now after five years (of tuition) they are allowed to paint their own thing.

"I took them through exercises, taught them everything until they could find their own style."

The hard work has obviously paid off as Pam believes her group of artists will exhibit works of a professional standard to sell from $500 upwards.

"The work is of a very high standard," she said.

"My aim is always to teach people to become artists rather than hobby painters. I am always looking at getting works into galleries, always looking for gallery owners to see someone as an artist who is up and coming."

Three members of the group - Di Barlow, Eileen Seymour and Geraldine Black - are abstract artists. Andrea Cass and Cheri Bloxsome are semi-abstract artists. Fay White is a stylist artist and Melva Giolami paints primitive art.

"I am the eighth artist," Pam said.

"I am excited about this exhibition. It is great to see their work up and displayed."

CHECK IT OUT

To each his Own Art Exhibition at Noosa Marina opens on March 1 and runs until March 31.