Two artists who were given £38,000 by a philanthropist to create a Tenby-themed exhibition have been slammed as money wasters'.

Dan Llywelyn Hall and Raphael Pepper spent a weekend in the town, working on 40 different studies of various aspects, including the multi-storey car park.

The criticism has come from senior art librarian, Peter Baxter, of London, who had been asked to open the exhibition at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, but then declined the offer.

However, he visited it ahead of Friday's opening and said he was horrified to discover that the money had been blown on the mother of all weekend benders by the two artists in the show.....and all they managed to produce was a few drawings, including one of Somerfield car park!"

He told the Western Telegraph: "I am outraged to hear that the sum of £38,000 has been given to two artists to swan around Tenby for a weekend and make artwork'."

The money was given by London-based Welsh philanthropist Sebastian McClennen, but would have been better spent elsewhere, such as improving the museum building or on local health services, claimed Mr Baxter.

"This man has the cheek to think that this is the kind of exhibition that the people of Tenby want," he added.

"If the man is a philanthropist, then he should have given the sum to a more needy cause."

Both artists had previously visited Tenby as youngsters, and because of their attraction to the area wanted to give people a real artist's impression of the town', said Mr Llywelyn Hall, who grew up in Barry.

He admitted the bursary given by art collector Mr McClennen was a fair sum of money', but added that although the exhibition works were created during a weekend visit, the preparation and planning had occupied him and Mr Pepper for around a month.

Although some of the paintings appear rushed', he pointed out, time does not equate to quality'.

The exhibition, called Transfiguration, was opened by Sue Hubbard, art critic for The Independent and The New Statesman, and can be seen daily until April 13th.

There will be a meet the artists' day on Thursday, April 3rd, from noon.