THREE new exhibitions opened at a Southampton gallery last week.

The shows at Southampton's renowned City Art Gallery are a celebration of the Royal Academy of Art's 250th anniversary.

New work by current Royal Academy president Christopher le Brun's is called 'Composer' - and includes an installation from his Doubles series, which explores the idea of composition by juxtaposing independent paintings to achieve a greater complexity of expression.

Also on show is William Stott of Oldham’s painting Le Passeur - The Ferryman - a painting which is considered a "key moment" in the breakthrough of British Art to naturalism and established Stott as one of the most progressive British artists of his day.

The painting is exhibited as part of a collection of works showing the development of British Naturalism and Impressionism and includes examples of French Impressionism, drawn from Southampton’s permanent collection.

Shown alongside Le Passeur will be work by some of Stott’s contemporaries who were influenced by the move in painting toward rural Naturalism, illustrating what connects Stott to them at this moment in his career and what distinguishes his singular vision.

Also on show until January 12 is a collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures by past and present Royal Academy members from Southampton's permanent collection.