10   THE ART OBSERVER July 2006 By Sarah Crane LISA DE PRUDHOE was born in Santa Monica, California in 1963 and was brought up in both the Republic of Panama, where her family lived, and England, where she went to school. She continued to flit between the two places until May 2000 when she decided to settle in England. She has experienced sell-out exhibitions in Panama, where she still exhibits on a regular basis at the Habitante Gallery, as well as other prestigious venues in Miami, Washington DC, and Australia. Lisa’s work is informed by the early twentieth-century Russian school of Abstract Constructivism. Other artists excited by this visionary school include Anthony Caro, Ben Nicholson, Victor Pasmore and Bridget Riley. Lisa shows us a vivacious mix of architectural and geometric qualities alongside a more painterly quality in her stunning acrylic canvases. Having honed a technique of exquisitely detailed layering of tiny brushstrokes, Lisa produces pieces that create a 3-D illusion that always amazes the viewer. In Panama, in 2004, Ramon Oviedo described Lisa and her work in the following way, “Capturing, understanding and unravelling reality (as we know it), is not only a challenge for Lisa De Prudhoe, but also a refreshing way of looking at our environment, surroundings and at Art ... she makes use of detached and intermittent spaces of our daily existence ... Her art is rigorously aesthetic, as it has been from the very beginning of her career”. In March the Wendy Levy Gallery was delighted to present this successful artist’s first solo-show in her now native Manchester. Wendy said, “Lisa’s work is quite different from any other work in Manchester - it reflects the wonderful rich tropical colours of South America and the paintings are executed with an unusual and effective technique, they are quite amazing. We are already looking forward to her next solo show with us which will be in April 2007.” Lisa De Prudhoe’s canvasses bring the hot tropics of South America to England Nature Assigns the Sun Lisa will be one of the artists featuring in the book “A Colourful Canvas – Twelve Women Artists in the North West” being published by Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Ltd later this year. For more information on the book please contact Wendy on 0161 446 4880, or email wendy@wendyjlevy-art.com Refresh Refresh: The deli sandwich and juice bar Catering: Outside catering for all occasions, picnic baskets and marquees Emporium: The preserves, gourmet chocolates, floral ice decoration, designer and vintage textiles and personal shopping for gift baskets. This wonderful and ‘refreshing’ food business is very much a family affair with various sisters and extended family members helping in front and behind the scenes. Between them they have a multitude of experience, successes and degrees. Most importantly they have a passion for fresh food. Growing some of the food themselves and using their own extensive herb garden, they aim to provide delicious flavours in everything they prepare, including the marinades, sauces and preserves they create for their shop. The premises, in the heart of Didsbury village, tucked away at the top of Whitechapel Street, exudes freshness and offers fresh, seasonal, home-grown, healthy, additive free food, with organic, vegetarian, gluten-free and diabetic options. The food is freshly prepared and created on site daily in the kitchens above the crisp and eclectic boulangerie emporium shop where you are warmly greeted by friendly staff who may even tempt you with complimentary mini cakes and chocolates. ‘The Good Life’ We all need it! The Good Life!