A CELEBRATED local artist says she ‘may just have to flee the country’ in a few months as the reality of appearing on national television sets in.

The nation’s best artist could well be Sarah Stoker, at least according to Sky Arts who chose her out of thousands of other applicants to be placed in the beloved Landscape Artist of the Year competition.

The show – hosted by comedian Stephen Mangan, known for his work on I’m Alan Partridge – sees dozens of artists travel across the country to paint some of the UK’s most breathtaking landscapes.

Gawber-based Sarah will appear on the tenth season’s fifth heat, which airs on February 19, though admits the whole situation is a bit ‘out of her comfort zone’.

The 55-year-old said: “I was so far out of my comfort zone even when I was simply just applying for it.

“But even just getting onto the show was huge for me.

“Everyone was really friendly, really lovely and they made all the contestants feel at home.”