A TASTE of African Colour will wow photography fans at a York woman's first exhibition at a venue in the city.

City Screen, in Coney Street, is hosting a display of abstract photography by Kay Hyde for the next month.

Kay took the pictures, using powerful and striking images, while on an assignment in the Cape Verde Islands, off the west coast of Senegal.

She said: "I love shooting colours and textures to create striking abstract images and have long been fascinated by graffiti.

"Instead of taking a photograph of a beach or sea view I strive to make my interpretations of a country form a different angle - you have to use your imagination to work out what the photographs mean to you."

By combining leading-edge photographic technology with traditional techniques and processes, Kay said she aims to produce creative images that are original, stylish and modern.

Adam Keay, exhibitions manager at City Screen, said: "We are keen to develop themed exhibitions, as we did for the recent York Comedy Festival, our next project being the Sightsonic digital Arts Festival later this year."

Kay said: "It's fantastic that so many venues are now offering artists the opportunity to showcase their work in the city.

"York's artistic scene is evolving rapidly and has improved beyond all recognition over the last few years.

"I'd like to see a situation where York becomes Yorkshire's equivalent of St Ives in Cornwall - a Mecca for artists and art lovers."

Since opening in 2000, City Screen has showcased the work of more than 80 artists.

Updated: 08:44 Thursday, July 03, 2003