Nova Scotia painter Tom Forrestall waded into the dispute over $100 million worth of art at the Beaverbrook gallery, testifying Wednesday about his work in the facility's vault more than 47 years ago.

The handwriting of Forrestall, a former assistant curator of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, is on more than 70 collection records dating back to 1959. He testified early in the day at the arbitration hearing into the ownership fight between the gallery and British charitable foundation in Beaverbrook's name.

Forrestall described in detail more than a dozen paintings he handled during his tenure at the gallery.

He appeared to remember most things about his work, but said he didn't recall notes on collection records from the paintings, even though handwritten and typed notes have since been found, assigning ownership to the Beaverbrook Foundation.

Forrestall said he would have remembered the notes, because it would have changed the status of many paintings in the collection. He said the paintings that were on loan to the gallery were clearly marked.

Forrestall also told the hearing he recalled a conversation with Lord Beaverbrook about the art, and was left with the impression that the paintings belonged to the gallery, as much as the gallery belonged to the paintings.

The hearing continues Wednesday afternoon, with gallery director Bernard Riordon scheduled to testify.