A NORTHERN VIEW - The Best of Northern Art    Apr 23 - May 30, 2009

This exhibition has been a delight to put together as it covers all aspects of Northern Art, past and present. There are over 100 works on display, making it one of the largest shows of its type ever held in the North. It is not all dark, satanic mills, the paintings of Fred Yates (who lived in Urmston) and Simeon Stafford (born in Dukinfield) add splashes of vivid colour which contrast with the brooding power of Theodore Major's paintings.

Northern Art has never been so popular, it is widely collected and has risen in value considerably in the last few years. Most people cannot afford to buy an original Lowry painting, however there is now a wide range of quality work available from the current crop of artists in the north, at prices which are very affordable. These undoubtedly represent a good investment opportunity for the future. As an example, the Oldham artist John Thompson, famous for his group series paintings is now one of the best selling artists in the country and the value of his work has doubled in the last three years.

L.S. Lowry, Theodore Major, Helen Bradley, Alan Lowndes, John Thompson, Peter Brook, William Turner, Adolphe Valette, Sheila Fell, Liam Spencer, Fred Yates, Harold Riley, Simeon Stafford, Reg Garner, Peter Stanaway, Roger Hampson, Stacey Manton, Trevor Grimshaw, Geoffrey Key, Tom Dodson, Bob Richardson and many others.