York artists denied the chance to show their creations by the coronavirus pandemic can now exhibit them online, thanks to a city gallery.

This weekend would have been the first of the two annual York Open Studios weekends when artists across the city would have invited the public into their workshops.

At least 144 artists working in a wide variety of media would have taken part.

But both weekends have been cancelled.

Now Pyramid Gallery in Stonegate has opened its website to local artists and slashed its commission.

Gallery owner Terry Brett said: ‘This enables York artists to show their new work to our customers, without a selection process, and enables them to earn more from each sale.

“The gallery is closed and my staff are furloughed, so I can operate with lower overheads during the lockdown, and hopefully maintain contact with my customers who are confined to their homes.”

So far ceramicists, painters, printmakers, artists working in mixed media, a graphic designer, a jeweller and an upholsterer have put their works on the website.