Turner oil breaks artist record :
A Turner masterpiece of a view over Rome sells for £29.7m at Sotheby's in London, breaking the artist's record at auction.

Man cleared of folio theft :
Antiques dealer Raymond Scott is cleared of stealing a rare copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, worth an estimated £1m.

Slave portrait appeal is launched :
The National Portrait Gallery launches a £100,000 appeal to help keep in the UK the earliest known British oil painting of a freed slave.

Artist Taylor-Wood has baby girl :
Artist turned film-maker Sam Taylor-Wood has a baby girl with actor fiance Aaron Johnson.

Sister Act show role for Goldberg :
Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg is set to make her West End debut, starring in the musical Sister Act.

Serpentine sees red over pavilion :
The Serpentine Gallery's summer pavilion, designed by world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, is unveiled.

Opera singer Siepi dies aged 87 :
Italian opera star Cesare Siepi, considered one of the finest ever bass singers, dies at the age of 87.

BBC launches Proms archive :
The BBC launches an online Proms archive, listing all performances, composers, works, soloists, conductors and ensembles in its 115-year history.

Dame Beryl Bainbridge dies at 75 :
Novelist Dame Beryl Bainbridge has died at the age of 75 after a short illness, her agent says.

'Faked' Banksy conmen sentenced :
Two people who admitted selling fake prints they claimed were the work of graffiti artist Banksy receive 12-month suspended sentences.