A NEW Ryedale business is featured in a photographer’s online lockdown exhibition.

Wistful Play, set up by Merryn Wilderspin, specialises in traditional toys and games.

Merryn, whose family set up Wilderspin Sports in Scarborough 100 years ago, had planned to launch her new business in March at Coxwold Market, but had to go online when the lockdown was implemented.

As part of her marketing activities she set up a mock market stall inside her garage for use in creating product photography and social video content.

The result caught the attention of photographer Fran Monks, from Oxford, who is documenting the lives of people who are isolating and having to work from home.

The process involves communicating via live video link with Fran directing the shot from her computer and then taking the image through her monitor screen.

Merryn said: “It’s a great privilege to be included in Fran’s new exhibition and to be a part of a social history snapshot that encapsulates the lives of such an interesting range of people during this strange lockdown period.

“Having to bring forward the online sales aspect much earlier than originally planned required a major diversion and a lot more work, but has proved to be an unexpected bonus, although I’m still very much looking forward to getting out and about in Ryedale and North Yorkshire and selling face-to-face at Coxwold, other similar village markets and gift fairs and even the Whitby Goth weekends.”