Chairs with a challenge.

A new exhibition at a Tyneside cathedral shows chairs as you've never seen them before.

Visitors to St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle are being invited to challenge their original beliefs in religion at a new art display.

The exhibition, The Twelve Disciples, focuses on spiritual growth and development, using the focal point of Jesus and his disciples ( represented as chairs.

Each chair is a unique entity, designed around the character and family relationships of each disciple.

The hand-crafted set is the latest project by Coventry artists Tony Yardley, 33, and his partner Claire Spooner, 32.

Mr Yardley said: "We made the exhibition because we wanted to communicate our thoughts, ideas and opinions with other people, and we want to do that in an intriguing and captivating way.

"If we have been successful in our efforts then maybe what we have achieved will give others food for thought and will give them a sense of appreciation.

"This particular piece of work is about soul and spirit, something we all have and we all share.

" We intended the work to express intimacy and we hope our efforts have been successful and people feel included by the piece and share in the themes expressed by it."

The exhibition is made from a range of solid woods finished with blends of natural oils, polishes and waxes. Each chair has an individual piece of hand-dyed, freehand machine-sewn textiles incorporated into its seat.

The art display will be at St Nicholas Cathedral for the next four weeks.