ART lovers can now get up close to paintings like these from Huddersfield Art Gallery – without even leaving their armchairs.

One hundred of Yorkshire’s best-loved works are available to view online – and in detail – thanks to a pioneering project.

Yorkshire’s Favourite Paintings has been put together by 30 museums and galleries from across the county and includes art dating from the 17th century to the present day.

It is part of a nationwide campaign by the Public Catalogue Foundation to photograph and recording all oil, acrylic and tempera paintings in publicly owned collections in the UK.

It is estimated that there are 200,000 such paintings in the UK, more than 10,000 of which are in Yorkshire.

But at any one time 80% are hidden from public view, either in storerooms or in public buildings in official use.

Curator Jill Iredale, who is involved in the project, said: “Anyone in the world can now go online and see the paintings and the stories behind the pictures, with the ability to zoom in and see the incredible detail and techniques used by the artist.

“We also hope that seeing the paintings online will encourage people, including new audiences, to come and visit us and get the full experience of seeing these stunning pieces up close.”

The Huddersfield Art Gallery paintings include Pendent, produced by Edward Wadsworth in 1942, Moorland Benediction, by Sonia Lawson in 1985, Tea in the Bedsitter, a 1916 work by Harold Gilman, John Atkinson Grimshaw’s Silver Moonlight from 1886 and Diptych for a Tame Spider, produced by Alan Davie in 1967.

Participating galleries also include Bradford’s Cartwright Hall, the Smith Art Gallery in Brighouse and Bankfield Museum and Shibden Hall in Halifax.

Visit www.yorkshiresfavourites.org