Bronco Buster, a watercolour by renowned Western artist CM Russell, was the leading light of a weekend auction in Montana.

The Russell Auction, organised to benefit the CM Russell Museum, was an integral part of Western Art Week in Great Falls, Montana.

Bronco Buster achieved $200,000, slightly below its guide price but significantly up on the $121,000 it made at Christie's in 2003.

The piece is signed and dated "CM Russell/1894" and inscribed with the artist's famed animal skull.

Hold on to your hats: CM Russell’s Bronco Buster made $200,000

Western art lovers and investors from around the globe attended the event, including collector Lenard Biscope from across the border in Canada, who told KFBB: "I like to support the artwork in the community here and the museum. I think some of the cream of the crop comes through this auction."

As well as works by Russell, a number of pieces by modern day artists were also up for grabs, with a proportion of the proceeds donated back to the museum.

The entire auction made around $960,000, slightly down on last year's figures.