Mervyn Horton AM (1917-1983), editor, art writer and entrepreneur, founded the journal Art and Australia in 1963 and edited it until his death in 1983. Horton was educated at Newington College and the University of Sydney before becoming the Director of Katoomba Collieries. He joined Ure Smith Publishers in 1950 and went on to become director of the company, which published his books Present Day Art in Australia in 1969 and Australian Painters of the '70s in 1975. In 1956 he opened the Galleria Espresso coffee bar in Rowe Street, Sydney. Horton was the secretary and exhibitions manager for the New South Wales Society of Artists for twelve years and the honorary secretary of the AGNSW Gallery Society for ten years. He served on a number of governing councils and advisory panels including the Arts Council of Australia, the Lindsay National Trust, the Lord Mayor's Advisory Panel and the Friends of the Australian Ballet.
