5 THE ART OBSERVER May 2008 By Jonathan Drage SINCE HIS  very successful solo exhibition at Wendy Levy’s last October, Richard Clare as always, has been very busy painting. A trip to Venice last Christmas provided inspiration to paint Venice at night. “Slowly travel- ling down the Grand Canal by boat at night, with the lights from streetlamps and Palace windows reflecting on the water was a magical experience”, says Richard. This night time experience inspired him to paint a mini- series of works depicting Barga at night, where Richard now lives. Giving himself a deadline of just one week to paint, (Richard thrives on pressure!), he set up his easel in the piazzas, and while everyone was fast asleep he produced twelve remarkable paintings. With the acceptance from the Mayor of Barga, these pictures Is the “Art of Seeing” something we take for granted? Ask yourself when was the last time that you had your eyes tested? A thorough eye-examination not only meas- ures your visual standard, but can screen for possible changes or problems in the health of the eye. Using new equipment that enables us to take digital images of the retina, we can examine in detail even the smallest of blood vessels to help us to compile a “blueprint” of your eye. Our practice is committed to providing our patients with the most advanced products and services available. We are therefore delighted to be able to offer the New Focus Daily Aquacomfort Plus, arguably the most comfortable contact lens ever, with Triple Action Moisture for all day comfort in will form an exhibition that will take place during the summer in Barga. Richard will be taking his paints with him when he goes on holiday this summer to Provence and Nice. So you can expect not only new images of Manchester, Northern England and Tuscany, but also a few of the bright lavender fields of Provence in his next solo exhibition. Thankfully you won’t have to travel to Tuscany to see them - Richard’s next solo exhibition will be at Wendy J Levy’s Gallery this October. Bring your sunglasses! Wheeldon Optometrists the blink of an eye. If you wear glasses and haven’t contemplated contact lenses then why not think again, contact us and come and try them. As well as offering the latest examination technology and the newest contact lens designs, we endevour to keep up with the current trends in Eyewear and Sunglasses with ranges form Prada, Gucci and Fendi proving popular throughout 2007. Collections for this summer offer vibrant colours and exqusite detail, with something to suit all tastes. During 2008 our 3 Practices are undergoing a facelift and we would welcome patients old and new to come and visit us. Painting Tuscany during the Night www.wheeldon-opticians.co.uk available at 4 Stockport Road, Cheadle SK8 2AA  Tel: 0161 4282396 11 Hawthorn Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5DD  Tel: 01625 524311 106 Palatine Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 3YB  Tel: 0161 14454253 The Summer Sun is in Sight Many designer sunglasses available from £99 complete with prescription lenses Sunglasses shouldn’t only match your style; they have be right for your eyes. That’s why we offer sunglasses with lenses in your specific prescription and custom tinting. Sunglasses made to order 179 lots of divergent style and subject matter, but each representing in its own way this region we call The North, went under the hammer at Urbis. This was a standing room only event; the auction a lively competition between phone bidders and those in the room. The first of 2008’s three Art Auctions to be held by Capes Dunn, the sale offered paintings by artists also featured in the touring Millscapes exhibition. Roger Hampson’s works included Rochdale Canal, Manchester and Atlas Mills, Bolton. Geoffrey Key’s industrial scene, Rooftops, went for over the estimate at just under £3,000 and bidding was typically strong for Lowry signed prints. Star of the show, it could be argued, was not in fact a painting of the Industrial North, but an impressionistic Derbyshire Landscape by Lowry’s tutor, Adolphe Valette. This painting commanded silent attention as it eventually went down for close to £10,000. Arthur Delaney’s industrial scenes of elongated trams peppered with red were very well repre- sented in the sale, with six excellent examples of his work. They proved his popularity to be enduring as many surpassed estimate and the six reached a total of just under £35,000. With attendance high and private bidders keen, The Northern School - a massively varied and creative mix of style and subject matter - continues to stimulate new followers. NORTHERN SCHOOL ART AUCTION Barga at Night FREE TRIAL NOW CALL FOR DETAILS