The Independent Recommends: Art

THIS, THE first London exhibition for several years of work by Craigie Aitchison, shows that he has lost none of the charm that has made him that rare thing - a painter whose work is both publicly popular and well respected by his peers. Deservedly so on both counts. His most recent work is at the Timothy Taylor Gallery, with a selection of earlier creations at Waddington's.

Craigie Aitchison, Timothy Taylor Gallery, 1 Bruton Place, London W1 (0171-409 3344); Waddington Galleries, 34 Cork Street, London W1 (0171- 437 8611) to 19 Dec

Following the success of their Lucian Freud exhibition in 1996, the Abbot Hall Gallery are continuing to host important shows of contemporary art. From today you can see one of the most comprehensive retrospectives of work by Bridget Riley (above) ever staged, with over 40 well-selected works from 1961-1998.

Bridget Riley, Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendall, Cumbria (01539 722464) to 31 Jan