It’s not unusual to see the work of painters Alan Wylie and Mike Svob in close proximity.

The two colleagues and friends have often collaborated on mural projects in Canada and the U.S., including large-scale pieces at the Vancouver International Airport, Lake Tahoe and Ballard, Wash.

Possibly their most impressive teaming has been a 256-foot-long, 16-panel celebration of  ‘Beautiful B.C.’ commissioned by Playtime Gaming.

But it’s through their individual, highly personal landscape interpretations that the public will meet them in the upcoming  exhibition Side By Side at White Rock Gallery, which opens Sunday, Sept. 25 (reception noon to 4 p.m., artists in attendance, 1247 Johnston Rd.).

The show, which runs until Oct. 2, demonstrates that two painters can share similar subject matter – outdoor scenes, urban landscapes and more intimate observations of their immediate environment – and be equally masterful in their techniques and handling of media, and yet still express unique and distinct personalities.

Wylie’s almost photographic approach is imbued with his sensitive awareness of lighting, colour and mood; Svob’s paintings often take a bolder, looser and more vivid approach to form and colour, but match Wylie’s in his ability to evoke a compelling mood.

As the show points out, they have frequently accompanied each other on travels around the world. They share similar outlooks and temperaments, the same wry sense of humour, and ultimately the same sense of professionalism.

To those who appreciate the diversity of their work, it’s also fascinating to see the way they can subsume their idosyncracies when collaborating on a mural – in effect, becoming one painter in their dedication to the overall design.