Earlier today I visited a superb exhibition at the British Museum. Italian Renaissance Drawings is a unique collaboration between the Uffizi in Florence and the British Museum, charting the increasing importance of drawing during this period. It features works by Leonardo da Vinci, Fra Angelico, Jacopo and Gentile Bellini, Botticelli, Carpaccio, Filippo Lippi, Mantegna, Michelangelo, Verrocchio and Titian.

Infrared and other technology used in conservation research provide fresh insights into how drawing allowed painters to experiment and explore with a freedom not always reflected in their finished works. Examples in the exhibition show the trend towards depiction of movement and expression of emotion, often inspired by classical antiquity.

I found the images on display incredibly moving and inspirational. I often avoid talking about works of art in this way but the experience of seeing so many fabulous drawings in one exhibition was immense. Drawing has always been at the root of my practice and it was wonderful re-visiting many of the artists who first inspired me to pursue a career in the visual arts. I thoroughly recommend seeing this show before it ends on 25th July.

Check out a video preview of the exhibition: