A Lancashire hotel is collaborating with an art gallery to bring three acclaimed artists to the Ribble Valley for a night of eating and appreciation.

Fusing inspirational art with innovative food, the evening will see a collaboration between Longridge Gallery and Gibbon Bridge, introducing attending guests to three nationally acclaimed artists.

Held on Friday, March 22, the art and dinner experience will feature works by Michael Ashcroft, Andrei Protsouk and John Russell – each at the top of their game but with differing views of the world.

Michael Ashcroft grew up in Lancashire and after leaving school in 1985 he began his career as an engineer, painting and sketching only in his spare time.

In 1998 after he had a major operation to remove a brain tumour, he decided to paint more seriously and returned to college.

Over the years his paintings have evolved from early abstracts in acrylics to using oils in more representational works painted on location.

He is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.

He has exhibited with the Royal Society of British Artists, the Howard De Walden Exhibition and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London.

Art critic David Lee said of Michael: “In his landscapes as well as his views of the city, he willingly lays bare his pleasures and beliefs.”

Andrei Protsouk was born in the industrial city of Donetsk in Ukraine and his work now hangs in private collections of notable figures including George Bush, and is considered to have excellent investment potential.

Demonstrating an exceptional gift for art from a young age, on leaving school Protsouk attended the Lugansk School of Fine Art and at the Ilya Repin Leningrad Institute - widely regarded as one of the world’s finest art training programmes.

In 1994 Protsouk moved with his family to the US, where he quickly established himself as a prominent figure on the contemporary art scene.

He now works from a studio within his own gallery in Pennsylvania, continuing to experiment with a range of media and subject matter.

His talent has resulted in phenomenal commercial success, having completed commissions for Johnnie Walker and Coca Cola.

John Russell is a Scottish artist now living on a farm in northern England.

His work depicts British landscapes featuring brooding skies, which are skilfully crafted and stylised - the foreground dramatically lit to great effect often by a bright and striking moon.

From Yorkshire farms to Highland crofts, Lakeland cottages to Cornish mines, rugged, barren scenes are his favourite subject matter. John’s work, which is highly sought-after, is enigmatic and thought provoking.

Dinner guests attending the collaborative evening will arrive to a welcome drink and a carefully curated exhibition featuring the three artists’ work.

Guests will then have the chance to browse the exhibition before dinner is served.

There will be a presentation by Longridge Gallery’s Alistair Sheret, who will speak about the artwork, the artists themselves and their contrasting styles.

This fun and light-hearted art and dinner evening will be of great interest not only to experienced collectors of art, but also to those who want to discover and learn more about the artists behind the works – how their style has developed over time and the influences and beliefs that have inspired them.

Preferential rates to stay in one of the Gibbon Bridge’s luxurious rooms are available.

The event is £50, inclusive of welcome drink and canapes whilst exploring the exhibition of works, before a themed three-course dinner and coffee.

For more information or to secure your place, call the hotel on 01995 61456.