VAIL, Colorado — Watercolor painter William Matthews will be in Vail, Colorado this weekend for an exhibit at Claggett/Rey Gallery in Vail where he'll be exhibiting more than 30 new pieces. He'll be at the gallery, located at Meadow Drive, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday.

Matthews' well-known working cowboys will be seen alongside landscapes from the Great Basin to the rolling hills of Ireland and Scotland.

In Matthews' paintings, gritty swirling dust is palpably conveyed through a composition depicting spring roundup. The silent sound of snow crunching beneath the horse's hooves can be felt as a cowboy rides out to greet the dawn and the tasks that lie ahead. In the watercolor, “Smooth Sailing,” a snowy road is depicted with no evident end destination. It reminds us of the wanderings the mind takes while driving the desolate roads out west. A welcoming contrast beckons the viewer in the sensuous green hills of Tipperary in Ireland and the light reflected river in the watercolor, “Kilkenny Riverside.”

“I would say in the United States today there are maybe 10 great painters in the medium of watercolor that truly have something to say and want to create great art,” says Bill Rey of Claggett/Rey Gallery. “Willie is truly one of these rare fine artists and we are honored to represent such an American Master,” Rey said.

Claggett/Rey Gallery is located at 100 East Meadow Drive in Vail. Call 970-476-9350 or visit www.claggettrey.com for more information.

If you go ...

Who: Watercolor painter William Matthews exhibits new work

Where: Claggett/Rey Gallery, 100 E. Meadow Drive, Vail

When: Saturday, meet the artist from 5 to 7 p.m.

More information: Call 970-476-9350 or visit www.claggettrey.com