A PASSIONATE East Cornwall painter will be demonstrating her love of art after being chosen to take part in a new BBC series 'The Big Painting Challenge' which started on Sunday — but she's remaining tight-lipped on how well she has done in the competition.

Anthea Lay, 68, from Callington, has been painting as a hobby since childhood but since retirement has been showing off her work at various exhibitions and venues in the Tamar Valley and West Devon.

She said it was her nephew that alerted her to the BBC calling for art enthusiasts to take part in a new television series.

She said: 'They were looking for people who could paint anything, anywhere, in any medium and to a time scale. I usually paint quite quickly so I thought I would give it a go.'

Anthea said she sent in an application, then was interviewed via telephone and then went up to London to take part in some filming and painting practise, after which she was chosen as one of the 10 artists to take part in the show — the only contestant from the South West.

'The show covers a whole range of different art forms and as the show progresses the challenges get harder and harder,' she said. 'We went all over the country as all the contestants were from across the UK and all different ages and backgrounds.'

Sunday was the first episode of the series and saw the contestants visit Alnwick Castle in Northumberland for a landscape painting challenge.

During the episode they had to do three challenges — paint a landscape of the castle, create their own impression of the castle and then paint a small, timed drawing of a flower.

Anthea continued: 'There were two very fierce judges who were highly critical but in a constructive way. Sometimes they were really horrible and sometimes they were nice. The contestants who leave have to do the walk of shame as they go as well.

'It was so stimulating and challenging. As I'm getting on a bit now it's great to try new challenges and through the show I formed some great friendships with people who are united in their passion for painting.'

Anthea was not going to tell the ­Times how well she did in the competition, but assured readers they would 'see a lot of her' throughout the series.

The Big Painting Challenge is on BBC One on Sunday evenings at 6pm for the next five weeks.