An array of artists celebrated this year's Royal Norfolk Show in paint.

Eastern Daily Press: 'Paint It Out' artists working at the Royal Norfolk Show 2017. Picture: Nick Butcher'Paint It Out' artists working at the Royal Norfolk Show 2017. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

Armed with their paintbrushes and easels, the artists were out and about taking part in the Paint Out competition throughout Wednesday and Thursday, and turning scenes around the show into works of art.

Cattle and sheep, blacksmiths at work, the show's fairground, and even the EDP tea and gin tent were featured in their works.

The winner of the open air competition was Robert Nelmes, 53, from Roydon, who impressed judges with his work called Blacksmiths. He said: 'I am over the moon and amazed because the standard was so high. I decided to paint the blacksmiths because the subject suits the way I paint. It's all about light and dark, energy and movement and contrast, and it's a challenge too.'

Tom Cringle, 46, from Buxton, won second prize for his painting of the view from the Paint Out tent. The Paint Out judges for first and second prize were Simon Bax, chairman of Archant, and Jan Hytch, a partner at Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, and Archant provided the £500 prize fund.

The Spirit of Plein Air/Spirit of the Show joint award, for which Norwich Art Supplies provided the prizes of art materials, went to Lincolnshire artist Haidee-Jo Summers, 45, for the painting Waiting to be Judged and Norfolk-based artist Mo Teeuw, 65, for the painting Not So Much Fun at the Fair.

The Paint Out marquee was sponsored by Leathes Prior.

For more stories about the Royal Norfolk Show click here