Manx Easter exhibition of 'vibrant and colourful' art opens

Rebecca BrahdeIsle of Man
LINDA QUIRK Artwork lines metal panels put up in a grand room with white and black tiles, one piece shows the rugged Manx coastline in a painting, another is a print of Peel harbour.LINDA QUIRK
The exhibition includes 356 pieces of work from 98 artists

An annual Easter Art exhibition is returning to the Manx capital displaying the work of 98 artists.

Run by the Isle of Man Art Society, the display showcases 356 pieces including oil, acrylic and watercolour paintings, as well as ceramics and sculptures.

Linda Quirk, Secretary of the Isle of Man Art Society said this year's exhibition was "vibrant with lots of colourful pieces."

Many of the pieces were inspired by the island's landscapes, and this year, in a nod to 2026 marking a yearlong celebration of the Manx language, artists have been encouraged to incorporate Manx Gaelic in their pieces.

Linda Quirk An array of art, including a painting of a tiger, and a painting of a purple flower.Linda Quirk
The exhibition is held at the Villa Arcade in Douglas

"You find that with the creativity on the Isle of Man people are generally inspired by the beauty around them - so we get lots of art depicting the land and sea, lots of popular views from the island and also some more niche areas," Quirk said.

The event, first staged in 2004, showcases the work of Isle of Man Art Society members, some of whom are exhibiting work for the first time.

Displaying work has a "huge benefit" to artists, Quirk said.

"If your piece sells at an exhibition for the first time, that just sets you on a road to being able to be more creative, being able to produce more artwork and get involved in more exhibitions on the island," Quirk continued.

There is a "good variety of mediums to see" this year, she said, adding, "I can't think of another exhibition on the island that has such a huge array of artwork."

The event, which has a £1 admission fee and is free for children, runs until Monday and is open from 10:00 until 18:00 BST.

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