DISPLAY APPARATUS Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a display apparatus that can display an image such as a photograph or poster together with being able to store or display a three dimensional item. Background of the Invention 10 Picture frames of the type in which an image is sandwiched between a clear glass cover panel and a backing panel are well known. Such frames are generally provided with a fixture or fixtures to allow the frame to be hung on a wall. Alternatively or in addition to wall hanging picture frames also may have a stand 15 that is mounted to the backing panel so as to be able to support the frame on a horizontal surface such as a table top, cabinet, shelf or the like. In many cases, it is desirable to hold, store or display three dimensional items such as ornaments, figurines, models or the like together with a framed image. The only way to do so is to place all the items for display on a horizontal surface. 20 There is a continuing desire in the home furnishing and display arts to provide new and innovative ways to display items. Such new and innovative devices may be designed with a view to satisfy and/or reflect changes in customer's expectations, improve visual experience, improved practicality, flexibility and the like. It will be 25 appreciated that the ability to develop new and innovative display apparatus may provide customers with a wider choice and manufactures and retailers a market advantage. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative display apparatus. 30 1 Summary of the Invention According to a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising a display panel for displaying at least one image, the display 5 panel having a front display surface through which said image may be viewed, and a back surface, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow for mounting to a vertical surface and at least one shelf member extending forward of the front display surface such that when the display apparatus is mounted to a vertical surface, the shelf member is substantially horizontal. 10 The display apparatus of the present invention allows at least one image to be displayed. The image may be any suitable image or images that may be mounted or preloaded onto the display panel. The image may be a conventional static image that may be printed, developed, drawn, painted, embossed, stamped, 15 woven, or otherwise manufactured. Exemplary images include but are not limited to photographs, art prints, posters, certificates and other documents. Suitable substrates for receiving an image includes but are not limited to paper such as art paper, photographic paper, canvas, Bristol board, illustration board, fabric for example batik, embroidery, cross stich and the like. 20 The display panel has a front display surface through which the image may be viewed. In other words the image is located behind a surface so that the image may be protected from the environment or other damage. The use of transparent front display surfaces for photographic and artwork images is well known. The 25 front display surface may be any suitable substantially transparent or translucent material such as glass or a thermoplastics material such as an acrylic (poly methyl methacrylate) or polycarbonate. 30 2 In a particular preferred form of the invention the front display surface is an acrylic panel. Acrylic has a number of practical advantages such as being strong, light weight, shatter proof and excellent optical clarity. Further acrylic has production 5 and handling advantages in that it can be injection moulded, adhered to another acrylic member, thermobent to desired shapes and can be laser cut to exact sizes and shapes. In one form of the invention, an image may be permanently mounted to the rear of 10 an acrylic front display surface by a suitable adhesive. In this way a display apparatus of the present invention may be manufactured to order by customers desiring a permanently mounted image such as a wedding photograph, family portrait and the like. 15 In an alternative and preferred embodiment of the invention, the display panel has a front display panel that forms the front display surface a backing panel with a space defined therebetween for receiving a substantially planar image. The backing panel and front panel may be fixed together with an opening to allow a planar image to be inserted between them. Preferably, the backing panel and 20 front panel are formed separately and can be clamped together so as to allow a substantially planar image substrate to be removeably sandwiched between them. In this preferred embodiment, customers are able to display any selected image and replace with a new image as required or desired. 25 Alternatively, the image may be an electronic image, in which case, the display panel includes an electronic display screen such as an liquid crystal display. The electronic image may be a single image, although it is preferably a dynamic image in the form of a slide show or video. 30 3 The display apparatus is configured to be mounted to a vertical surface. The vertical surface may be any suitable surface, such as a wall, partition, or the like. The method of mounting may depend upon the size, and hence weight, of the 5 apparatus and the arrangement of the at least one shelf member as will be discussed further below. Preferably, the display apparatus is configured to be rigidly mounted to the vertical surface, rather than by hanging as per conventional artworks. This makes a 10 contribution to the working of the invention as it allows the apparatus to remain stationary with respect to the vertical surface should the shelf experience an uneven distribution of weight. It also provides additional support to the display should heavy articles be placed on the shelf. 15 The display apparatus may be rigidly mounted by any suitable means. A preferred form of mounting uses one or more stud wall mounts. Stud wall mounts typically have two parts that are threadably connected together. The first part is a tubular body with a base end and an open threaded end and the second part is a head portion with a threaded shaft that can be screwed into the open end of the 20 tubular body. The base has an aperture for receiving a screw so that the tubular body may be may be secured to a wall. The threaded shaft of the head portion is passed through an aperture in a panel and screwed into the open end of the tubular body so as to mount the panel to the wall. The panel is spaced from the wall surface by the tubular body which gives the mounted panel a "floating" 25 appearance. In the embodiment in which the assembly includes a backing panel and a front panel, both the backing panel and front panel have co-axial apertures so that both the backing panel and front panel can be fixed together by a stud wall mount as 30 discussed above. Tightening of the threaded head portion forces the backing panel and front panel together so as firmly clamp the image between the two panels. 4 The display apparatus of the present invention has at least one shelf member that projects forward from the front display surface. The shelf member may be formed integrally with the display panel or be formed as a separate unit and fixed to the 5 display panel. Such fixing may be by any suitable means such as adhesion, or by a tongue and groove arrangement. In the preferred embodiment where the front display surface is formed from an acrylic material that may be injection moulded, the or each shelf member may be moulded integrally with the display panel. Alternatively the display panel may be bent to provide a shelf member. Acrylic 10 sheets or panels may be heated to a certain temperature so as to soften the acrylic so as to allow it to be bent in a process known in the art as thermobending. In the form of the invention when the display panel has a backing panel and a front panel sandwiched together, one or more shelf members can extend from one 15 or each of the front or back panels. The shelf member may be substantially flat as a conventional shelf. However, in view of the flexibility that injection moulding and thermobending of acrylics can achieve, the shelf may have partitions, lips, recesses or any other suitable 20 arrangement. The or each shelf member conveniently extends across the full width of the front display surface, however, the shelf member may only at least partially extend across the display surface. 25 In the embodiment where the front display surface is an electronic display screen, for example a digital picture frame, the screen may be mounted within a frame and the shelf member may be fixed to the frame. Digital images may be uploaded to the display device as per methods known in the information technology arts. 30 5 Still further, the display apparatus may include one or more speakers that are in electronic communication with the electronic display screen. In this case, the shelf may include a data device receiving mount such as a USB port, POD dock or 5 other suitable device. The shelf member or members may be of any suitable or desired size. The shelf may hold or store any desirable three dimensional ornamental or utility item. Ornamental items include trinkets figurines, models, small toys, miniatures, 10 medals, flowers, trophies, memorabilia and the like. It may be appreciated that the display assembly of the present invention allows hitherto unavailable methods for customising a display in which an image such as a photograph may be further personalised by selection of the item(s) paced on the 15 shelf. This may be particularly attractive to children and young teens, where not only are they able to display a photograph of a landmark occasion but can also display a memento at the same time as part of a consolidated display. Children may also display pictures of favourite characters together with corresponding miniatures or figures. 20 In addition to personal displays, the display apparatus of the present invention may also be applicable for use in advertising and point of sale promotions. For example, an advertising poster may be displayed and leaflets, vouchers or any other type of promotional material may be placed on the shelf or shelves. 25 In the embodiment of the invention in which the display apparatus comprises an acrylic backing panel and an acrylic front display surface, it is preferred that the display further includes a light source for highlighting the displayed image. One or more light sources may be fixed about or to part of the periphery of the display 30 surface. A particularly preferred light source is a one or more light emitting diodes(led). The diodes are suitably arranged in a strip or bar that can be placed 6 along at least one peripheral side of back panel. Suitably a strip is placed along each vertical side of the back panel. Typically, the panel will have a complimentary recess in which the led strip may be received. A diffuser may be placed over the back panel so as to uniformly distribute the light. The diode 5 lighting is suitably operated by an on/off switch located on the rear of the display apparatus. The diode may be operated by battery or mains power. In the latter case, an LED driver is provided so as to convert the 240V mains power supply to low voltage. Methods of edge lighting signs are known in the signage arts. 10 Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred display assembly of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing how the display assembly shown in Figure 1 15 is fixed to a wall; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a further preferred display apparatus of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of a further preferred display apparatus of the present invention; 20 Figure 5 is a schematic view of a backing panel of the display apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a further preferred display apparatus of the present invention. 25 7 Detailed Description of the Figures Figure 1 shows a preferred display apparatus 10 of the present invention. The 5 display apparatus has an acrylic display panel 12 with a front display surface behind which is a photographic image 14. The front display surface 12 has a border region 16 that simulates a picture frame. The border region is formed by adhesive tape attached to the rear of the display panel 12. 10 The display apparatus 10 is mounted to a wall 18 by 4 wall stud mounts 20 located toward each corner of the display panel 12. Figure 2 shows a detail of how the wall studs 20 secure the display assembly 20 to the wall 18. Each stud 20 has a tubular body 22 having a base end 22 and an open end 24 with an interior thread. The base end 22 has a small aperture (not shown) through which 15 a screw 28 may pass so as to secure the tubular body 22 to a wall 18. Each stud mount 20 includes a head member 30 having a threaded shaft 32 and a head 34. The display panel 12 includes a front panel 36 and a backing panel 38. Each panel has a co-axial aperture 40 extending therethrough. The aperture 34 is 20 dimensioned to snugly received the threaded portion 32 of the wall stud mount 20 as shown in Figure 2. In order to mount the display apparatus 10 to the wall 18, the body 22 of the wall stud mounts 20 is fixed to the wall 18. The front panel 36 and backing panel 38 25 are place together and the threaded shaft 32 passed through the aperture 34 and screwed into the open end 24 of the tubular body 22. The head 34 of the head member 30 is dimensioned so that it can be comfortably finger tightened so as to secure the assembly to the wall and also to firmly clamp the front panel 36 and the backing panel 38 together. In this way, an image can be firmly held between the 30 respective panels. 8 Referring back to Figure 1, the display apparatus 10 has a shelf member 42 extending forward of the front panel 36. The shelf member 42 is integral with the front panel 36 and is formed by thermobending the lower part of the front panel. 5 Alternatively the shelf member could be thermobent in the opposite direction such that the position of the backing panel and front panel are reversed. The display apparatus 10 is also provided with peripheral lighting that will be discussed further below. 10 Figure 3 is a schematic view of a further preferred display apparatus 50 of the present invention. This apparatus is provided with an upper shelf 52, a lower shelf 53 and two intermediate smaller shelves 54, 55 that do not extend across the full width of the display surface. It may be appreciated form Figure 3, that the display 15 apparatus of the present invention may be configured to have one or more shelves in any suitable or desirable combination. Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of a further preferred display apparatus 60 of the present invention. This display apparatus has a digital display such as the 20 devices known in the art as digital picture frames. The display apparatus is provided with a USB port 62, AC and DC inputs 64 and an on/off switch 66. Figure 5 shows the rear view of the backing panel of the display apparatus as shown in Figure 1. The backing panel has two strips 70 of light emitting diodes 25 (LEDS) 72. The strips are connected by electric wiring 74. The LED strips are located within grooves in the backing panel. Figure 6 is a side view of a further display panel 80 of the present invention having upper 82 and lower 84 shelf members. 30 9 It will be appreciated that the display assembly of the present invention provides a new and innovative manner in which to display a combination of a substantially flat image and any one or more three dimensional items. The display assembly 5 allows a customer to display any selected image and to display objects or conveniently store or hold utility items such as mobile telephones, keys, small change and the like. The display assembly may be used in a domestic situation or may be used in any 10 suitable commercial situation such as point of sale. For example, the image may be an advertising image and the shelf may be configured to hold items such as business cards, promotional items, literature or the like. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the 15 invention as descried and claim herein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 10