The Turner Prize has done more than anything else to bring British contemporary art to the attention of a wider audience. Pickled cows, unmade beds and winking lightbulbs have grabbed the headlines and dominated the debate in recent years. But has controversy flourished at the expense of serious consideration of the artists involved? Why did the 1992 winner Grenville Davey advise future contenders that they would need 'protective headgear, thick gloves and barrier cream'?

Virginia Button, curator of the exhibition from 1993 to 1998, describes the evolution of the prize and presents a fully illustrated survey of all the participating artists since 1984. Art critic Claire Bishop reflects on the culture of prize-giving at a time when methods of art-making vary so widely. An invaluable resource for all those seeking a better understanding of British contemporary art.