A RENOWNED North-East artist used a pioneering live satellite link-up yesterday to defend an unfair dismissal claim by a woman sacked from his North Yorkshire gallery.

Mackenzie Thorpe made what is thought to be the first ever live television appearance in a tribunal, in Newcastle.

He was defending himself from America against a claim by Angela Davis, 42, who claims Mr Thorpe sacked her from her sales job at his Richmond gallery because he baulked at paying her commission for every print sold.

Mr Thorpe, well-known for his square sheep and paintings featured on ex-Tory leader William Hague's Christmas cards, spoke to the hearing from California, where he is setting up a studio.

Miss Davis, of Hurgill Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, started work at the artist's gallery, Arthaus, in early 1997 and was quickly rewarded for her sales success with a ten per cent commission on original work sold.

But she claims she was made to suffer by Mr Thorpe and his wife, Susan, after her sales technique sold more pictures, netting her more commission in the process.

The artist, who originally comes from Middlesbrough, claims she was always assuming more responsibility than her job allowed and tried to sell unfinished work that was not up for sale.

Via videolink, Mr Thorpe denied an accusation that he resented paying her commission. During a cross-examination by Jane Woodwalk, representing Miss Davis, he said he wanted her to "share in his success".

He said: "I do not resent paying her commission. I sell a number of works to different galleries and they take 75 per cent, so why would I resent somebody selling 20 prints a year for ten per cent?"

When Ms Woodwalk put it to him that he did not want to pay commission because the work "sold itself", he replied: "I do not regret somebody making a living off my success."

The tribunal heard how Miss Davis resigned in September 2000, but returned days later with a doctor's note to say she was off work ill. She was off sick for the next 33 weeks before she was sacked by letter on April 20, last year.

The tribunal continues today.