Artist expelled by Royal Academy

Artists including JMW Turner studied at the Royal Academy school

The Royal Academy of Arts has voted to expel former head of schools Professor Brendan Neiland, the first member to be expelled in more than 200 years.

Professor Neiland resigned as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools last July amid allegations regarding missing funds from academy accounts.

The professor is the first artist to be stripped of his membership since James Barry was ejected in 1799.

Mr Neiland, who denies dishonesty, said he was "disappointed but unsurprised".

Mr Neiland, 63, was one of 80 Royal Academicians, all practising artists, who govern the Academy and are responsible for its direction.

On Thursday the General Assembly voted to expel the professor, with 39 Academicians voting in favour of the expulsion.

Financial irregularities

The Academy announced that the the Queen, its patron, had been informed about the decision, and had given her assent.

"The majority of the General Assembly voted to expel Brendan Neiland as a Member of the Royal Academy of Arts. HM The Queen was informed and gave her assent," a statement said.

Last year's internal investigation was prompted by a pattern of administrative and financial irregularities in the Royal Academy's art college.

The investigation uncovered an unauthorised bank account and transactions involving some £80,000 that was "not properly documented".

Earlier this year, Mr Neiland told the Guardian he had kept the money in "good faith".

"I can say that in good faith I held an account to benefit the schools."