Three nude paintings have been moved out of general public view at Harrow Arts Centre to avoid offending visitors.
The trio of pictures by Jonathan Hutchings was due to go up alongside less controversial works in the corridors of Elliot Hall as part of Harrow Arts Society's annual exhibition that began on Monday.
But Harrow Council stepped in on the day the artists hung their pieces to demand the three are shown separately in a side room, the board room, which is still accessible on request.
Harrow College employee Mr Hutchings' paintings each measure 30in by 24in and are figurative illustrations made during a weekly life drawing class he has attended at the arts centre in Uxbridge Road, Harrow Weald, for the past eight years.
Margaret Mountstephens, exhibition co-ordinator for Harrow Arts Society, said: "I'm disappointed and I wanted to have a nice exhibition.
"The council are being stricter than they have been. Two or three years ago the life class paintings went on show and they OK'd it.
"I think the paintings may be 'questionable' but it depends on who's calling it offensive."
The Observer understands the council was concerned about the sensitivity of displaying the pictures in a corridor that was generally accessible to the public.
Harrow Arts Centre is not a dedicated gallery space and is run as much more of a community centre nowadays with multicultural family activities taking place together with one-off events like weddings.
