Vibrant colours and subjects feature in the work of south Asian contemporary artists exhibiting at the Noble Sage Gallery this summer.

The venue has chosen to display work by some of the most popular artists in its collection, who vividly capture aspects of life and culture in their homelands of India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Among them, Iromie Wijewardena’s work gives colour to everyday life in Sri Lanka.

The painter is most fascinated by the subject of Sri Lankan women and their different roles, and she attempts to give stature to her subjects, who include Kandyan dancers, fisherwomen and market-sellers in spite of their everyday work and hardships.

“It is boring, monotonous work they do normally but when I show it, it is colourful and cheery,” says Iromie, who has been painting for more than 40 years.

Also displaying is South Indian abstract artist Achuthan Kudallur, the only entirely self-trained artist in the exhibition. Displaying a passionate love of individual colours, each painting takes a particular colour as a source of inspiration.

Madras-born S. Ravi Shankar took inspiration at a young age from fishermen and the wonder he felt about their adventures at sea. These real and dream experiences would become a feature of his art.

In P. Jayakani’s work, the urban and underwater worlds overlap, especially in his enthralment with the end of the world and the aftermath of catastrophic natural disasters, such as a tidal wave or earthquake.

Although it might seem these works draw inspiration from the 2004 tsunami, his fatalist absorption dates back further.

“I would say that in my paintings, I saw the tsunami first on the horizon,” he says. “I was not surprised when it came.”

The exhibition runs from Wednesday, June 16 until the end of July at The Noble Sage Gallery, 2A Fortis Green, London N2 9EL (near East Finchley tube). Admission is free. Details: 0208 883 7303, www.thenoblesage.com