While Stations was firmly rooted in liturgy and demonstrated the power of visual images in churches this Gallery exhibition explored the human search for a spiritual and moral lead and the factors that enable or cause people to lead extraordinary lives.

Christ's life was unarguably exemplary, but people look for and find inspiration and models for ways of living from many quarters. Artists themselves can be seen as exemplars, in a constant struggle to represent the world and their experiences honestly and with fresh eyes. At the same time many ordinary people provide an example through lives of quiet dedication or acts of great generosity and bravery.

The artists in An Exemplary Life explored the theme in very different ways using a variety of media. Oliver Barratt's set of stations used a consistent torso to trace the marks made by Christ's last journey but which also alluded to countless other incidents of human cruelty and suffering. Ian Breakwell's work for the exhibition revealed his admiration of Thelonius Monk, an obsessive and innovative artist. Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie's project Broadcast, was inspired by the Canterbury Tales and encouraged the contemporary participants to undertake their own pilgrimages. Many of the 'pilgrims' chose to visit an 'exemplar' and their journeys were documented for this show. Other exhibition artists included Katrine Herian, Cedric Christie and Edwina Leapman.