Next time one of your art class struggles to grasp the right sort of brushstrokes, perhaps you could point them in the direction of Chinese artist He Wenjun, who has been declared a world record breaker for creating the largest paintbrush in the world.

He has used the massive 12ft, 115lbs brush to create traditional calligraphy in a special exhibition in Nanchong, southern China.

The artist says he built the brush himself using hair from the tails of 300 horses - and claims it can soak up enough ink to add more than 100lbs to its weight.

“It took me a year to make this brush, and nearly another year to learn how to control it,” he says. The only thing is, you might have to clear out the store cupboard to make room for it.