Empty shops become art galleries

Work at the galleries includes pieces from the award winning contemporary oil painter Lee Campbell, architectural glass sculptures from Eleanor Long and photography from former documentary director Anne Clements.

Three fully functional pianos have also been placed in the new galleries which have been transformed from a former hair salon in Church Street, Lisson Grove; a neglected Thai restaurant on Fernhead Road, North Paddington, and a disused ceramics shop on Broadwick Street, Soho.

The pianos will be decorated and played by the public attending the galleries before they are exhibited on central London streets until July 13 as part of SingLondon's forthcoming interactive Street Pianos project.

The galleries are in place for a few weeks at a time or until the shops are let to another business.

Westminster Council, which owned the disued shops, is now seeking to continue the success of these galleries and is looking for more arts and community projects needing assistance in the future.

Westminster Council's cabinet member for adult and community services Cllr Ed Argar said: "When shops become empty it can create a negative impact on high streets and the people that use them.

"This is a perfect opportunity to make the most of otherwise unused spaces and bring them back to life for the benefit of the whole community, until demand from suitable long-term business leasees for the vacant premises is found."