An angry artist decided to get her own back when three nude prints were rejected for an exhibition - by displaying them on the village green.

Painter Barbara Gardner was so angry after being told the work was not required, she displayed her pictures on the North Yorkshire village green in protest.

The three nude paintings - of herself, her grown up daughter and her daughter's adult friend - were rejected by the Richmondshire Arts and Crafts Guild, ahead of their inaugural exhibition at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.

Mrs Gardner, 57, of Bainbridge, near Hawes, believes the nudes were dismissed because of content rather than quality.

She said: "I got a phone call on my answer machine on the day of the hanging saying 'Barbara these paintings don't work for us - bring in four landscapes'.

"While I'm very supportive of the guild, my initial response was that they were being prudish.

"I'm not saying these are wonderful paintings and I'm not saying they are better than other people's work.

"But these paintings weren't rejected because they were a poor standard."

Bus loads of tourists stopped to view the paintings while they were displayed on Bainbridge village green over the weekend.

Mrs Gardner, 57, who has been painting for nine years after giving up her career as a carer, said: "The response from the public was very positive.

"People couldn't understand what all the fuss was about."

However, Liz Hawkes, project co-ordinator for the guild, defended the decision not to exhibit the paintings.

She said: "A sub-committee was appointed to oversee the hanging of the exhibition, and in accordance with the guild's constitution this sub-committee reserves the right to reject work by members if it is not of sufficient standard, or is inappropriate for the chosen exhibition space.

"Whilst we cannot comment on individual reasons we can confirm that three paintings by one of our members were not accepted this year.

"The artist concerned was invited to submit alternative works, which were accepted."

The guild is a newly formed group set-up to promote artists and crafts people from Richmondshire. The exhibition runs until August 18.