An auction of paintings and belongings from the collection of the late Westcountry artist Robert Lenkiewicz has made a whopping £2.1m.

The items, which included hundreds of paintings and drawings, were sold at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Auctioneers Bearne’s said the collection went for more than twice the initial estimate.

The Temptation of St Antony, a 36ft-long (11m) canvas, was sold for a top price of £170,000.

Auctioneer Richard Bearne told BBC News: "For a long time Lenkiewicz was thought to be a South West artist, but since his death he has grown in stature.

"Some critics were quite skeptical about his work when he died, but I think they have been proved wrong.

"Prices are increasing all the time for his work."

Lenkiewicz, who died in 2002 aged 60, lived in Plymouth, Devon, for more than 30 years.

According to media reports, Lenkiewicz, who had 11 children by a number of mistresses, left debts of over £2m.