'He's hot!' Handsome Big Painting Challenge contestant, 23, leaves viewers 'distracted' from the artwork with his VERY tight T-shirts

  • Callum Stephen, 23, is garnering lots of attention on The Big Painting Challenge
  • Self-taught artist already has fans on Twitter admiring his handsome looks
  • Second episode of the new BBC show, which features amateur artists competing in a series of challenges under the watchful eye of judges, aired last night
  • Callum's fans admitted they weren't watching the show entirely for his painting prowess - and said they were frequently distracted by his tight t-shirts

By Jo Tweedy For Mailonline

Published: 07:30 EDT, 9 April 2018 | Updated: 09:26 EDT, 9 April 2018

A 23-year-old self-taught artist who lays bricks by day is gathering a following of fans on new BBC show The Big Painting Challenge - thanks to masterpieces and his brooding good looks. 

The art show, presented by Rev Richard Coles and Mariella Frostrup, aired its second episode last night - and handsome Welshman Callum Stephen, from Llanidloes, left viewers hot under the collar - despite sporting a swollen eye after suffering an allergic reaction to an insect bite.

On Twitter, some viewers admitted that they were really getting into the painting show - which follows a Bake Off style format - but for all of the wrong reasons. 

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A work of art! Callum Stephen, 23, from Llanidloes, Wales, has impressed viewers with his painting skills - and his good looks - on new BBC One show The Big Painting Challenge

A work of art! Callum Stephen, 23, from Llanidloes, Wales, has impressed viewers with his painting skills - and his good looks - on new BBC One show The Big Painting Challenge

Self-taught Callum, seen trying to paint a dog during the first challenge on last night's episode, recently moved to France from Wales - and says he's largely learned his craft from YouTube

Self-taught Callum, seen trying to paint a dog during the first challenge on last night's episode, recently moved to France from Wales - and says he's largely learned his craft from YouTube

The dark-haired painter has already picked up plenty of fans...with Twitter awash with proclamations of admiration for the handsome bricklayer

The dark-haired painter has already picked up plenty of fans...with Twitter awash with proclamations of admiration for the handsome bricklayer

While Callum struggled with the dog painting challenge, the 23-year-old still remains a strong contender to progress further in the competition

While Callum struggled with the dog painting challenge, the 23-year-old still remains a strong contender to progress further in the competition

Callum, who recently re-located to France from his native Wales, has impressed judges so far with his super realistic artwork although last night saw the dark-haired artist almost undone - by a brown dog that wouldn't sit still.

However, Callum persisted and despite facing a tricky second challenge that involved capturing Acer glade at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, he has painted his way into the next round.

On social media, viewers of the show have wasted no time in expressing their admiration for Callum's toned physique and penchant for clothes that show it off. 

After Callum was introduced last week, @IontheAnorak wrote: 'Couldn't tell you if the paintings are any good or not. To be honest, I can't really see anything other than Callum's tight white t-shirt.'

And @Jontroid didn't hold back, saying: 'Callum is hot. He can paint me like a French girl. #BigPaintingChallenge.' 

Callum pictured with some of his artwork, which has been applauded for its realism

Callum pictured with some of his artwork, which has been applauded for its realism by professional artists 

Rev Richard Coles and Mariella Frostrup are at the presenting helm of The Big Painting Challenge, which sees one of the amateur painters eliminated each week by judges Daphne Todd and celebrated landscape artist Fraser Scarfe

Rev Richard Coles and Mariella Frostrup are at the presenting helm of The Big Painting Challenge, which sees one of the amateur painters eliminated each week by judges Daphne Todd and celebrated landscape artist Fraser Scarfe

@WSussexDan admitted it wasn't the ability with a paintbrush that was drawing him in, saying: 'I can't paint and don’t really appreciate art like I could but I love #bigpaintingchallenge. Nothing to do with Callum though. Nothing at all.' 

@julieturner579 added simply: 'Hottest artist I've seen! #bigpaintingchallenge @callum_stephen1'

Callum has eschewed the conventional art school route and told Wales Online that he learned much of his craft on YouTube.  

He says: 'I didn’t really enjoy art in school. It wasn’t until I went travelling at 19 in Australia and I saw a man painting and making good money that I thought ‘I’m going to try that.'

He adds: 'I read a lot of books and watched YouTube and developed my skills.'

The programme sees the keen artists helped in the competition by two mentors, Diana Ali and Pascal Anson, before their work is judged by Daphne Todd and landscape artist Fraser Scarfe.

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