Why lesser-known artists deserve to get a second look

HANDS up all those who have heard of Edward Burra?

- David Taylor-Gooby

I suppose I could have done before last week. I had heard of him but did not know much about him. One of his most famous paintings, “Street Scene in Harlem” did feature in an exhibition at the Laing in Newcastle last year. But despite not being very well known he is one of the most interesting English painters of the 20th century. He lived from 1905 to 1976.

Tate Britain have an exhibition of his work this summer, and I have been lucky enough to see it. I will put in my usual moan here about such exhibitions not being accessible to most people in the North East. Thanks to National Theatre Live we can now see prominent plays from the West End in local cinemas. I am going to see Rosamund Pike and Imelda Staunton in Murton next month. Similar things should be done for exhibitions. When there is a major exhibition, and paintings are gathered from all over the world, why can they not be filmed so more people can see them?