Clare is the first Leeds born-and-bred artist to make the shortlist for the Northern Art Prize which is in its second year.

The 59-year-old, who lives in Armley, has been a professional artist all her life.

She also lectures at Leeds Met University and holds down a research post at the University of Lincoln.

Last week she put up her five-part work, including video installation The Misunderstanding Project, in the Lyons Gallery at Leeds City Art Gallery.

On Thursday the work of all four finalists opens to the public.

Clare said: "I was very surprised when I got through to the last four.

"It's really nice to be showing in my own country and especially my home town.

"I've exhibited in a lot of other countries but a lot of people in Leeds don't get to see what I've done. Just having this show is really useful in such a nice gallery and nice that people round here can see my work."

Four of the five artworks were made in collaboration with Brazilian Patricia Azevedo through a world artist exchange scheme.

The fifth, the video project, shows films of people from all over the world recounting misunderstandings which have led to hilarious and sometimes tragic consequences.

Headingley-born Clare, who has a fine art degree from the old Leeds Polytechnic and went to the Chelsea School of Art, wants the Leeds public to take part.

The mum-of-three grown-up children said: "I'm interested in all kinds of misunderstandings; ones that take place through language, situations, culture, and technology.

"They can be serious misunderstandings that change the course of events to the everyday, small-scale ones that have little or no effect.

"The only thing I ask is that they must have happened to you, either as the person who misunderstands or the one who is misunderstood."

To film your misunderstanding come along to Leeds Art Gallery on the next three Saturdays between 1 and 4pm.

You can also see the pieces by the other shortlisted artists: Richard Forster; Paul Rooney and Imogen Stidworthy.

The show runs until February 1, 2009, with the winner announced on January 15 by a panel of three judges.

Logistik, a Leeds-based design and communications agency, set up the prize in partnership with Leeds City Council and Arup, a global firm of designers and consultants.