Beautiful views along the River Wensum are among those inspiring artists competing in this year's Paint Out Norwich event.

Eastern Daily Press: Artist Sue Mann at work paints from a canoe at Cow Tower during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYArtist Sue Mann at work paints from a canoe at Cow Tower during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Up to 40 artists from across the country are currently taking part in this year's open air art competition and can be found dotted around the city with their paints and easels. The main competition started today and continues tomorrow.

Among the painters along the riverbank today was Robbie Murdoch, from Hampshire, who was doing an oil painting of Cow Tower.

'I couldn't resist the light and the shade on the tower and the autumn colours,' he said.

'I love being outside, I cannot work inside in a studio. If you paint from photographs it has already been reduced to two dimensions, here it is three dimensions.'

Eastern Daily Press: Artist Anthea Eames at work painting Fye Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYArtist Anthea Eames at work painting Fye Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Sue Mann, from Swansea, was painting Cow Tower with egg tempera and had set up her easel on a canoe.

'I usually paint with my bicycle easel, this is my first time painting in a canoe. It's great, so peaceful,' she said.

Anthea Eames. from Norwich, picked Fye Bridge as her subject and was incorporating sand from the river into her mixed media painting.

'I love the beautiful abstract shapes from the shadow under the bridge,' she said.

Eastern Daily Press: Artist Robert Nelnes at work painting Whitefriars Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYArtist Robert Nelnes at work painting Whitefriars Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Meanwhile Robert Nelmes, who lives in West Sussex, was creating a watercolour of a scene incorporating Whitefriars Bridge.

He said: 'The scene has everything compositionally that you want in a picture. There's a focus of interest, the bridge, and also it has other painters in it, and I like the idea of painting somebody painting.'

Sue Willmer, from Woodton, was also focussing on the view of Whitefriars Bridge and St James Mill for her oil painting.

'It's a nice composition and the red on the Jarrold building is just stunning and really captures the eye,' she said.

Eastern Daily Press: Artist Sue Willmer at work painting Whitefriars Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYArtist Sue Willmer at work painting Whitefriars Bridge during the Norwich Paint Out. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

All the work created in the main Paint Out Norwich competition today and tomorrow will be displayed at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry from October 20 to 29. This Wednesday there will be a gala preview, prize-giving and auction at the Hostry.

Paint Out Norwich is part of the Hostry Festival. Visit www.paintoutnorwich.org and www.hostryfestival.org