PRIZE-winning local artists Annie Musgrove and Alexandra Lavizzari are combining forces to put on an art exhibition in Wellington in aid of the international charity Sightsavers.

Held at the Pop-Up shop on Fore Street from Monday, December 9, the exhibition will include a display of paintings, prints and cards and an opportunity to find out more about Sightsavers.

There will also be a raffle held for prints of Annie and Alexandra’s prizewinning works, including Annie’s ‘Untouchable Horizons’ and Alexandra’s ‘Pond 2’, from which 20m per cent of profits will be donated to Sightsavers.

Many local people, including Annie, have had their sight restored through cataract and other eye surgery and will understand the impact of vision impairment.

For Annie, gradually losing her vision due to a cataract was difficult as her vision became increasingly blurry. Consequently, her work became more like the French impressionists. Although she found ways to deal with her changing vision, having cataract surgery made a huge difference and she is now able to choose how she expresses her creativity in her paintings.

After a relatively short wait, Annie was offered an NHS appointment at Spa Medica in Exeter, but, she says she’s since reflected on her ease accessing eye health services which is not mirrored across the world.

She said: “Since having my sight restored, I have been a keen supporter of Sightsavers, a charity that works with governments and partners across Africa and Asia to save and protect sight. Since their foundation in 1950 they have helped provide more than 9.25 million cataract operations.”

The art show in aid of Sightsavers will take place from Monday, December 9 to Saturday, December 14, from 10am to 4.30pm at Wellington’s Pop-Up shop on Fore Street.

To find out more about Sightsavers, visit www.sightsavers.org