A CRITIC is due to give a free lecture on the Swindon Collection of British Art this tonight.

Erik Burnett Godfree was curator of the Swindon Art Collection from 1991 to 1997 and managed the Swindon Museums Education Service.

In his talk at the Oakfield Campus of the University of Bath in Swindon in Marlowe Avenue, he was due to trace the development and history of the collection, focusing on nine works where were reproduced to scale and now hang in the foyer of the campus.

The collection, based at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery in Old Town, is of national importance and was described as "exemplary" by Independent on Sunday art critic Tim Hilton.

Started 60 years ago by the town council, it is home to works by Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland and Desmond Morris. The talk is due to start at 5.30pm.