SILSDEN art historian Colin Neville is going ahead with his first Silsden Art Show during the Easter weekend, despite the Covid-19 lockdown.

He moved the event – originally planned for Silsden Town Hall – onto the Internet so he could still showcase the work of artists living locally.

The 90 images can be seen until the end of April on Colin’s website Not Just Hockney, which highlights the lives and works of artists from the entire Bradford district.

Colin said Silsden Art Show, which would originally have lasted for three days in the town hall, focused on professional artists for the Silsden, Keighley and Ilkley areas.

Keighley and Silsden artists include the ceramics artist Dianne Cross, the Haworth abstract painter Judy Sale, and Silsden artists Fran Elliott, Debbie Johnson, Emily Moore and Martin Williamson.

Colin said: “All the artwork on the virtual site is for sale.  If any artwork is sold, the artists concerned have pledged to make a donation to support the community-managed Silsden Town Hall.  

“At this difficult time local artists need our support as the usual channels for displaying and selling their artwork temporarily close. 

“So this online alternative will give, at least, local art lovers an opportunity to view the artwork of most of the local professional artists who were due to exhibit at the town hall.”

The artists include Lucia Smith, who draws inspiration for her paintings from the Yorkshire Dales in which she lives.

She said: “The moors and valleys have a timelessness, a hugeness, a reassuring solidity.

“Time spent walking here seems to rebalance and rejuvenate; it is the only place I know where I can be simultaneously soothed and uplifted. I seek the essence of each location.”

Visit notjusthockney.info/silsden-easter-art-show to see the exhibition.