THEATRICAL York band Vesper Walk are releasing their debut short film, A Fist Of Art.

Piano-playing York sisters Lisa-Marie Baker and Catherine Cowan explore the effects of mental illness in an eight-minute film that combines music, theatre, dance, poetry, art and human puppetry to show how debilitating depression and anxiety can be.

“We feel passionately about how powerful the arts can be in coping with mental health issues," say the sisters, who lead the seven-piece . "It’s sobering to think that one in four people have mental health problems at some point in their life. But engaging in the arts can help, stimulating emotional responses, improving confidence and creating positive change.”

A Fist Of Art is the first short film made by York videographer Allan Scott, whose work to date largely has been in the commercial sector. "I've loved the challenges of creative filmmaking and feel inspired to continue with this type of work," he says.

The film has been supported by the national mental health charity SANE, who collaborated with Vesper Walk on the project by providing artwork from some of their talented service users, which can be seen throughout the film.

Among those endorsing A Fist Of Art is Ellen Cole, who runs York's Little Festival of Live Music. “Vesper Walk should be immensely proud of what they have created," she says. "The film is powerful, thought-provoking, surreal and reflects how mental ill-health can affect people in so many different ways.”

Vesper Walk were established in 2013 by the classically trained Lisa-Marie and Catherine, who were seeking to create a hybrid art form with four-hand piano at its core.

"Our music is full of symbolism, fairytale and metaphor and our live shows combine elements of dance, drama and projected images," say the sisters, whose music-making has been likened to Arcade Fire, The Tiger Lillies and early Genesis.

Last summer, Vesper Walk staged their Fallen Angel show at the Edinburgh Fringe, since when they have played sold-out shows around. Now, A Fist Of Art marks the debut film role for most band members, but it also finds Lisa-Marie making a return to acting.

"In the past I've had roles in several television dramas, such as Frost and Fat Friends, and I also appeared in the feature film Elizabeth, which starred at Cate Blanchett and was filmed at York Minster."

A Fist Of Art is being entered for national and international film festivals. Meanwhile, it can be viewed online at vesperwalk.co.uk/short-film