PIECES from one of the most important collections of modern British art owned by Swindon Borough Council are now on display in the heart of London’s Mayfair district.

Swindon Museum And Art Gallery holds one of the most important collections of modern British art in the country, with works by some of Britain’s finest modern artists, including Lucian Freud, Leon Kossoff, Frank Auerbach, Alfred Wallis and LS Lowry.

Due to lack of space, the works are displayed in rotation, and sometimes kept in storage.

A selection of the paintings, drawings and studio ceramics are now on display at the Osborne Samuel Gallery in Mayfair, giving the London art world a chance to discover this collection for themselves.

Gordon Samuel, the director of the Osborne Samuel Gallery, who lives in north Wiltshire, is a keen supporter of the new museum and art gallery planned for Swindon.

The proposed £22m butterfly-shaped structure, which will be built on the site of the now demolished Wyvern car park, will house the nationally significant collection of modern art and is intended to become a focal point of the town’s new cultural quarter.

Trustees and supporters hope it will become the most admired civic museum in the country.

Gordon said he wanted to show his support by offering his gallery space for an exhibition.

He has been working with staff at the Swindon art gallery to hand pick works from the Swindon Collection to display in his gallery and has selected works by artists including Graham Sutherland, Henry Moore, Edward Wadsworth, Lucy Rie and Hans Coper.

Staff from Swindon Museum And Art Gallery Trust say the opportunity will raise awareness about the quality of the collection and it will be using the exhibition to launch their wider fundraising campaign.

Hadrian Ellory-van Dekker, the trust’s director and chief executive said: “This is a great opportunity, right in the heart of London’s Mayfair, for everyone to see Swindon’s collection of Modern British Art.

“People are always surprised that Swindon has such a remarkable collection, and now we have the opportunity to reach those who haven’t heard about it and hopefully encourage them to come down to Swindon to see the rest of the amazing collection.”

The trust is managing the Swindon Museum And Art Gallery project which has two key aims: to create a fitting home for Swindon’s museum and art collections, including the nationally significant collection of British 20th Century Modern Art; and use its location to boost the regeneration of the economy and attractiveness of the town centre.

An application will be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £10m to go towards the cost of the new art gallery and Swindon Borough Council has pledged £5m.

Coun Garry Perkins, the Cabinet Member for regeneration said it will play a key part in securing the town’s economic future and put Swindon on the map as a major arts destination.