A Norfolk artist's success was aired on TV this afternoon as she survived the ordeal of a 'hanging committee' and the scrutiny of scores of art collectors.

Kirsty O'Leary-Leeson put her burgeoning reputation on the line on BBC2's Show Me the Monet, which pitted thousands of artists against each other to see if their work hit the mark.

Mrs O'Leary-Leeson, from Plumstead, near Cromer, was initially shortlisted from a field of 3,000.

She then got three 'yeses' from a 'hanging committee' of some of the world's toughest art critics - Charlotte Mullins, David Lee and Roy Bolton.

And in April, her work - a drawing of the sea on gesso-primed wood - was put forward for an exhibition at The Mall Galleries in London, where experts could decide whether or not to bid.

Mrs O'Leary-Leeson had a nervous wait to see whether anyone matched her guide price of �750. And she was put out of her misery by TV presenter Chris Hollins, who revealed that she had received three bids - included the top one, �850.

She said: 'It was great. I'm glad I went on the show, as it was fascinating to see how filming companies work.'

But she added that she had been unable to keep the promise that she made on TV.

She said: 'I said that I might put the money towards buying my daughter a harp, which she really wants to learn to play.

'Unfortunately, the money has got sucked into the overdraft. Instead, we are having a wet weekend of camping in Somerset.'

The 40-year-old only graduated from Norwich University College of the Arts (Nuca) 12 months ago.

She is married to Jamie and has children Adara, 15, Sakira, 13, Kylan, 11, and seven-year-old Ayrelia.