The Discerning Eye - exhibition archive

The exhibition is a fascinating opportunity to compare the personal taste of six eminent figures from the art world. Each of them have volunteered their time and judgement to bring together a personal selection representing some of the best of contemporary British art. Small works, by both established and unknown artists, are hung together to create a distinct identity within each of their six separate sections.

This year's selectors are artists Gillian Ayres OBE RA (abstract) and William Bowyer RA NEAC RP (figurative); collectors Sir Brinsley Ford CBE FSA, former Chairman of The National Art Collections Fund, and Lord Gowrie, Chairman of Sotheby's and Trustee of the Serpentine Gallery; and critics Tim Hilton, Art Critic of the Guardian, and John Russell Taylor, Art Critic of the Times.

The Discerning Eye's encouragement is twofold. The first aim is to help lesser known artists in the pursuit of their careers by giving them the opportunity to show alongside those whose reputation is already established. Each selector is requested to ensure that at least a quarter of his section is made up of works from unknown artists. These are chosen either by personal invitation or by selection from the Discerning Eye open entry.

Every lesser known artist whose work you see here is eligible for a range of prizes. The most prestigious is The Evening Standard New Discovery Art Prize of £15,000. This, together with the Discerning Eye Awards, is chosen by joint decision of our six selectors. In addition there are a number of individual prizes and offers of exhibitions from major galleries.

The second aim is to encourage all our visitors to exercise their own judgement. Which of the selectors' groups of paintings do you most like and what makes it distinctive? Within each group is it easy to single out the established artists from the new talent? Had you been one of the selectors, which of the lesser known artists would you nominate for The Evening Standard New Discovery Prize?

We hope that it will add to your enjoyment of this exhibition if you ask these questions as you view it and give us your answers as you leave. Your selection counts, because a final prize will be awarded on the last day of the Birkenhead exhibition to the work which receives most visitors votes.

The ultimate encouragement that the Discerning Eye can give to visitors is the confidence to purchase any work which strongly appeals to them. The exhibition is non profit-making and its final aim is to boost private patronage of living artists. All the exhibits have passed the scrutiny of an eminent and independent selector. Size is restricted in order to offer a wide choice at affordable prices. The pleasure of a discerning eye can be enjoyed at large during the exhibition; we hope it will endure long afterwards if visitors are encouraged to act on their own judgement.

We are delighted that The Discerning Eye will tour to the Williamson Gallery, Birkenhead, from 19th December to 19th January. The exhibition is open for a longer period in London than last year, from 29th November to 7th December and now includes a separate section of works by prize winners, past and present.

The high point for many visitors will be the special "Evening Standard Day" on Sunday, 1st December during which Brian Sewell, Art Critic of the Standard, will be available to discuss the exhibition on an informal basis with members of the public.

This introduction to the catalogue was unattributed

acknowledgements

The Federation of British Artists would like to thank Ian Laing and Michael Reynolds who, together with the Federation's Annabel Elton, were responsible for the conception, financing and planning that lie behind this Exhibition.

The Selectors: Gillian Ayres, William Bowyer, Sir Brinsley Ford, Lord Gowrie, Tim Hilton and John Russell Taylor, have, out of the goodness of their hearts, donated a considerable amount of time and thought to their personal selections and to the prizes.

The Evening Standard has donated the generous and imaginative Evening Standard New Discovery Art Prize of £15,000 and has supported this with coverage in both the magazine and newspaper. Special thanks are also due to Brian Sewell for giving his time and enthusiasm to the Evening Standard Day.

Many galleries are supporting the artists with awards namely the Catto Gallery, Fischer Fine Art, Christopher Hull and Llewellyn Alexander. Modern Painters Magazine is kindly donating four subscriptions. i.s.t.d. fine paper limited have kindly contributed in the form of card for the signs around the Exhibition and Alastair MacDonald for writing them.

Finally, I would like to mention the Westminster Council for their continuing support of the FBA as a whole.

The Discerning Eye relies on the enthusiasm and goodwill of many. We all owe them a debt of gratitude for enabling this splendid and worthwhile exhibition to take place.

The Federation Of British Artists

The FBA is an educational charity set up to promote public awareness of contemporary British Artists throughout the UK and abroad. It is home to Britain's leading art societies and is based at the Mall Galleries where artists are aided in their effort to exhibit and sell their work. The FBA organises an exhibition programme with special consideration for artists at an early stage in their careers

12Prizes 3Gillian Ayres 4William Bowyer 5Sir Brinsley Ford 6Lord Gowrie 7Tim Hilton 8John Russell Taylor 9Prizewinners exhibition >Next page