Revealed: what Culture Secretary Chris Smith hangs on his wall

UNLIKE MANY of his predecessors, Chris Smith actually likes modern art. Hardly a week passes without the Culture Secretary visiting a public gallery and meeting artists. From Damien Hirst to the Turner prize nominees, Mr Smith has been regularly exposed to the "cutting edge" of British art.

Recently he flew to have lunch with Gary Hume, Britain's entry in the Venice Biennale, the avant-garde art festival, at the British pavilion there. But he has always been discreet about his personal tastes.

Yesterday the Independent on Sunday was given exclusive access to the minister's new collection of art in his Trafalgar Square office.

And now the art world is divided about whether his choice represents immaculate taste or middle-class safety.

Above his desk is a portrait by Craigie Aitchison, the Scottish artist renowned for his simple but brightly coloured portraits. Mr Smith was introduced to the subject of the portrait, Alton Peters, Mr Aitchison's housesitter, at a private gallery viewing.

Mr Aitchison was surprised to hear that his portrait is in pride of place in Mr Smith's office. "I went to an opening of the new Jerwood Gallery and Alton was with me. I introduced him to Chris Smith. I think they got on," said Mr Aitchison. "Some people don't like posing for portraits but Alton took to it like a duck to water. I was quite pleased with the result. I think I will do another."

Behind Mr Smith's crowded desk is a bright blue Sir Howard Hodgkin lithograph entitled A Storm 1977. On top of his art-deco-style bookcase (full of tomes about the artists Sisley, Leger and Odilon Redon) is an abstract, and vaguely phallic, sculpture by Nigel Hall entitled Small "Steel Passage" 1995. To reflect his love of music Mr Smith has a Jacob Epstein bust of Dr Otto Klemperer, the famous conductor and protege of Mahler who was expelled by the Nazis.

Above the conference table are four screenprints, completed this year by the fashionable duo Langlands and Bell. Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell were among the group of young British artists in the Saatchi collection included in the controversial "Sensation" exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1997, which included Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Jake and Dinos Chapman.

Earlier this year, the Langlands and Bell prints were sold by the London dealer Alan Cristea for pounds 3,000 to the Government Art Collection, which lends art to ministers and ambassadors for their offices.

"I didn't realise Chris Smith had hung them in his office," said Mr Cristea. "They are pretty well known internationally. But they would still be regarded as cutting-edge artists. This is not a hyper-trendy choice but it is quite a bold one.Their work is bought by corporate buyers and serious contemporary collectors."

Next to the Langlands and Bell is an abstract woodcut, by the self-taught Ian McKeever, bought by the Government last year. This "contemplative" choice, which resembles an amoeba, is regarded as Mr Smith's boldest selection.

"Ian McKeever is a poet, and a lyrical choice. He is not a well-known painter and this shows a strong degree of individuality to choose him," said Matthew Collings, the art writer and broadcaster. "Everything else he has chosen is the lowest common denominator of tastefulness. This is the one choice that makes me think that Chris Smith has an ounce of integrity."

A Norman Ackroyd etching of Lake Windermere was influenced undoubtedly by the secretary of state's love of Wordsworth, the subject of his Cambridge PhD.

Slightly out of place with all the modern works is a discreet pencil drawing, by the little-known 18th-century artist Paul Sandby, of Cokethorpe Church in Oxfordshire.

Some critics feel that although the Culture Secretary's paintings are "luxurious and tasteful", they are safe.

"The Langlands and Bell is quite a minimalist type of work and his most adventurous choice. The others are a bit more mainstream," said Karen Wright, editor of Modern Paintings. "He seems to quite like simple images. There's not a lot of complication in Nigel Hall. But the work is not challenging. He is not experimenting. He is taking a safe route. I would not say his choice is cutting edge."

Mr Smith is fond of turning up at London galleries such as the Serpentine on his day off to look at pictures. "Chris Smith is passionate about contemporary art," said Julia Peyton-Jones, director of the Serpentine. "His choice is very impressive and shows real knowledge and sensitivity. It's very nice to see such significant figures represented in his office."

AN ART CRITIC'S VERDICT ON SMITH'S CHOICES

DOES Chris Smith pass the taste test? Matthew Collings, art writer and broadcaster, passes judgement on the Culture Secretary's personal choices.

Sir Howard Hodgkin

A Storm 1977

"I don't think Chris Smith knows the first thing about art if he has a Howard Hodgkin on his wall. Howard Hodgkin is for people who want to make a statement about going to lots of dinners. Howard Hodgkin goes to a load of dinners and paints them."

Langlands and Bell

Logo Works No. 1-4 1998-99

"Utterly boring. They are worse than Howard Hodgkin. They are so solemn. At least Hodgkin had a few good dinners."

Norman Ackroyd

Windermere 27 January 1996

"We can't forgive him for this. Ackroyd is an artist of no merit. The only reason he can have chosen this is for reasons of snobbery. This is kitsch and shows he has no feeling for art or knowledge. You would be a crass philistine to have a Norman Ackroyd on your wall."

Paul Sandby

Cokethorpe Church, Oxfordshire 1765

"This shows good taste. Anything pre-1800 shows good taste. Churches are a sign of good taste as well."

Craigie Aitchison

Portrait of Alton Peters 1983

"I am not against Craigie Aitchison. He is rather sweet and a genuine artist but leaning towards soppy. "

Jacob Epstein

Bronze bust: Dr Otto Klemperer (1885-1973) conductor, 1957

"Jacob Epstein was a very good artist and this shows exceedingly good taste. He is sentimental but very vigorous and muscular. His work is in the canon of British art."

Nigel Hall

Small "Steel Passage" 1995

"Hall is a non figure from the 1970s. This comes under the label of 'formalism'. I personally have no feelings for this. There's no logic to this choice."

Ian McKeever

Study for Painting No. 7 1998

"This is a choice I can sympathise with. It makes me think Chris Smith has an ounce of integrity. Everything else is the lowest common denominator of tastefulness. McKeever is a poet. He is a lyrical painter. McKeever is not a well-known name and it shows a bit of individuality to choose this."