I’ve never been a fan of Lowry, so went along to Tate Britain this month hoping to learn something and perhaps be converted.

The exhibition is well thought out and comprehensive. It was really interesting to see his work along side that of his tutor Valette’s painting ‘Manchester Scene’. Valette’s interpretation of the industrial north romanticises the setting, which was something that Lowry was determined not to do apparently. I admire this thinking and Lowry is certainly successful in chronicling the industrial landscape around him painstakingly and grimly.

For me however there is something lacking in his work – it doesn’t move me. I look for some form of emotional content in art. So while I came away from the exhibition with a much clearer understanding of Lowry and his work, I won’t be buying any reproductions for my walls.

I had been looking forward to Mexico: A Revolution in Art at the Royal Academy and was disappointed to read several negative reviews before getting along to see it.

Unfortunately the reviews were deserved I think. I realise that much of the works of Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco were murals, but it would have been nice to have seen photos of illustrations of some of it as well as the handful of paintings on display.

On the positive side, I did learn a lot about the Mexican revolution and am pleased to have been introduced to the excellent paintings of Henrietta Shore and Roberto Montenegro.

All in all not worth the £10 entrance price unfortunately.