A bridge too far...?

Bob Barker is known for his fabulous warm palettes and his combination of light and dark that brings out the very best in your imagination!

The gallery was sparkling almost as much as the chilled champagne! A stunning selection of Bobs prints were adorning the wall, including two fabulous originals entitled 'Going Steady' and 'Lost in Memories'.

Just as we checked our watches a cheery face looked in and there he was, smiling and nodding hello - the man himself!

With his easel under his arm and managing with paints and canvas he calmly walked in and started setting up his easel, there must be a knack to it - it looked a little tricky!

It wasn't long before he was set up and ready but it was a while before he started painting ... well, people do like to talk and Bob's a very interesting man :-)

He had brought along a canvas which he had already made a start on, with a black background and with the cloud and buildings already begun. So when he laid out his palette and started to paint we were keen to see where he went next...

As he painted Bob chatted along and answered questions, happy to explain what he was doing and the techniques he was using.

We stared in awe as the reflections on the water took on a light and a movement of their own, as the moon dazzled and shone in its aura - is there such a thing as a Moonbow?

A discussion started - should there be a bridge? It did seem to need something on that left side ... a bridge would seem to hit the spot! And so it was ... out came the palette knife and sure enough a bridge loomed from the darkness and reached out across the water, its lights sparkling in the stillness of the night...

It was amazing to watch the painting grow, people came in from the street to watch (and to drink chilled champagne!) the atmosphere was great!

And so the only remaining task is to name this stunning painting - does it take its name from the calm and the stillness of the night? Or from the thriving city rising into the night sky...? Or for the music and laughter behind those waterfront lights?

Who knows? You decide!