Royal Academy member speaks out

The Royal Academy is looking into the way that it is run

Former keeper of the Royal Academy (RA) schools, Brendan Neiland, has spoken out for the first time since resigning amid claims of financial irregularity.

Professor Neiland quit his job in July 2004 after it was found he was holding £80,000 of missing funds.

He told the Guardian on Tuesday he had kept the money in "good faith". Plans to strip him of his Royal Academy membership have so far failed.

The RA has launched an internal investigation into its recent troubles.

But it has only got so far as appointing someone to run it. The findings are expected in the summer.

Professor Neiland has welcomed the inquiry, saying it was being spearheaded by someone who has "an understanding of art and artists and institutions".

Stability

"It is very easy to go in and criticise, but sometimes that is unfair," he added.

Professor Neiland, a renowned photorealist painter, also told the Guardian his six years working for the Academy was "far too much time in the institution".

"An artist in the end is better off in the studio," he said.

Sir Nicholas Grimshaw was elected RA president in December

But he refused to comment on the resignations of former RA secretary Lawton Fitt, who left last summer, and former president Philip King who left in December, except to say of King he was "a world-class sculptor".

Architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw was elected to the role of president in December to replace Mr King.

Professor Neiland said Sir Nicholas was good for the role because of his large architectural practice.

"It means he is used to dealing with city people and lawyers in a way artists are not," he said.

It is hoped the new president will bring stability and modernisation to the organisation after a period of turbulence.