Keep your eyes peeled...

John William Waterhouse, The Lady of Shalott, 1888

As part of 'Art Everywhere,' 57 masterpieces have been selected through a public vote to appear on 22,000 billboards, bus stops and other sites as part of a nationwide open-air art exhibition. Paintings by artists such as David Hockney and Lucien Freud will be on display across the country between 12-25 August.

The founder Richard Reed said 90% of the population are likely to see the posters saying, "if we can't get the average guy in the street to go into a gallery, maybe we can get the art from the gallery into the street." A billboard is democratic and for everyone though is usually just there to sell things. The aim of this project is primarily for the posters to get noticed and to bring a smile to peoples faces, people don't have to buy anything just look.

'The Lady of Shalott' by Victorian artist John William Waterhouse was the most popular choice in the online vote with works by Francis Bacon, John Singer Sargent, Lucien Freud, JMW Turner and LS Lowry making the top 10.

Lucian Freud, Man's head, Self Portrait, 1963

In order for Art Everywhere to happen the advertising industry has donated poster sites, with other costs being met by The Tate, The Art Fund and a public funding campaign. So far the campaign has raised £133,000 of its £200,000 target.

See how many you can spot over the next couple of weeks. Feel free to keep me posted (forgive the pun) by writing a comment in the comments section below this post.

Here is one I spotted in Sainsbury's car park this morning...

Sir Henry Raeburn, Revd Robert Walker
Skating on Duddingston Loch, 1795