In Old Town, Older Wharf, Raphael Scott Ahbeng captures an immersive vista through a dynamic interplay of contrasting tones. Here, the artist highlights the vibrant colours of the scenery, and the reflections of the skies in the sea. He employs bold, horizontal strokes of yellow and red to evoke the shimmer of light across the water’s surface, heightening the town’s atmospheric presence. From his secluded studio in Bau, Sarawak, Raphael Scott Ahbeng painted on a variety of subjects and styles, with his métier being abstract. Given his first solo in 1954, he took up an Art and Photography course at the Bath Academy of Fine Art in England (1964-1967). He also took up Drama in London in 1973 under a Sarawak Government scholarship. His awards include 1st Prize in the Sarawak Shell Open (1959, 1982, 1983), and 3rd Prize in the Natural Malaysia art competition in Kuala Lumpur in 1991. A Bidayuh, RSA, as he is sometimes known, is an artist (professional since 1990), a teacher, a photographer, a newspaper cartoonist and a radio producer. His solo exhibition Legend: A Borneo Artist at Pinkguy Gallery, showcased the complete oeuvre of Raphael’s 60 years of work.