With the sixth annual Isle of Man Art Festival fast approaching, we're delighted to unveil details of participating artists, creative activities and try-out sessions at the different festival venues. For three days over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 29 April to Monday 1 May, festivalgoers will be able to experience a whole range of different art forms, with something for everyone, right across the island.
 
Tickets can be pre-bought online via creativenetwork.im and the Creative Network Facebook page, or from the Sayle Gallery. Alternatively, tickets are available at all the venues throughout the festival. The price is £5 for the whole three-day weekend, with under 18s going free.
 
In Peel
 
The Sailors Shelter: a new festival venue, where Helen Fox is planning an installation with scallop shells, in the shape of a giant grotto-style structure that people can stand inside. She is aiming for ‘a multi-sensory experience for sight, sound and touch’.
 
House of Manannan: eight artists will be demonstrating and talking about their work in oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, jewellery making, hand stitching using mixed media, ceramics and photography. Exhibiting artists are Bruno Cavellec painter, printmaker and digital illustrator; Pat Tutt, photographer, architect and writer; and ceramic artist Celine Appleyard.
Demonstrating artists include:

• Val Galpin, painter – oil painting techniques 
• Pat Kelly, mixed media artist – hand stitching with variety of media
• Jacqueline Dawson, painter – semi-abstract seascapes in acrylic paints
• Susanne Ekdahl, jewellery designer – Viking knitting using metal wire 
• Di Beckerson, painter – watercolour techniques 

 
In St Johns

The Isle Gallery, Tynwald Mills: James Duggan’s False Idols exhibition is showing at this not-for-profit venue run by Artreach Studios. Artreach promote artists working with both traditional and contemporary techniques, and host workshops for children and adults all year round.
 
In Sulby Glen
 
Glen Mooar Cottage Retreat: a new festival hub hosted by craft artist and seasoned demonstrator Sue Quilliam. Joining Sue in her craft area are:

• Rosie Wood, fine artist, who will be demonstrating her own project
• Sara Hogg, wool crafter, demonstrating spinning on a wheel and spindle, and talking about her rare breed sheep and various yarn crafts, which you can try out for yourself
• Julie Roberts, children’s book illustrator, who uses ink and wash to bring her fairytale Manx characters to life
• Gavin Carter, wood artist, who will be displaying some of his larger sculptural pieces
• Julia Ashby Smyth, artist and illustrator, who will have cards for sale featuring her magical drawings of fairytale creatures and mythical beings

 
In Ramsey
 
Ramsey Town Hall: a new festival hub for the north, kindly provided by the Ramsey Town Commissioners, showcasing local artists’ work across a range of media:

• Simon Park – large format photographic prints of natural sculptural forms
• Neil Milsom – textural stone carving and sculpture reflecting a passion for prehistory, mythology and the land
• Peter Davies – artist and illustrator of international acclaim
• Greg Barlow – large, almost abstract landscape photography
• Ronnie Doyle – self-taught watercolour painter

 
Ramsey Tram Station: another new festival venue, where Alice Quayle will be exhibiting her whimsical drawings and maps celebrating the delights of island life and landscape.
 
In Laxey
 
Hodgson Loom Gallery: no less than 16 artists will be exhibiting here, with a fantastically varied range of work spanning the traditional to the experimental, including Colleen Corlett; well-known for her stamp designs; Neil Milson, mixed media sculptor; Rebecca Odessa, painter and collage artist; Niamh Kelly, multimedia artist; Claire McMahon, painter; and Karl Garrett, mixed media artist/sculptor.
Artist demonstrations over the three-day festival weekend include:

• John Caley, who has taught and practiced illustration, photography, graphic design and fine art, will be demonstrating his approach to watercolour
• Shane Lucas, wood and clay sculptor

 
In Douglas
 
The Sayle Gallery: Mother and daughter Julie and Alice Fayle, both textile artists, are exhibiting works and will be running wearable art and fashion workshops for young people on both the Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The Sayle will also be showcasing a selection of outfits from the Manx Wearable Art Show 2017 in one of the gallery windows. 
 
Noa Bakehouse: Graham Rider’s exhibition of paintings inspired by the island will be on display until 2 May.
 
Sea Terminal: Isle of Architecture have arranged access to the Crow’s Nest, a rarely glimpsed part of the building, on Saturday 29 April between 10am and 8pm. Local musicians ‘Corkwing’ and ‘Sandfingers’ will be showing a specially created audio visual installation.
 
In Grenaby
 
The artists at Grenaby Studios who will be throwing open their doors and offering creative sessions are:

• Rosie Glassey, designer and engraver, offering visitors the opportunity to create their own unique laser-engraved nightlight shade that will create interesting shadows on the walls
• Nicola Dixon, artist and illustrator, demonstrating watercolour mixing
• Graham Hall, wood artist and furniture maker, demonstrating wood turning and other techniques, with try-out sessions
• Claire Pearse, jewellery maker, demonstrating jewellery creation
• Painter Graham Rider is also opening his studio to visitors
• St Johns-based painter Pauline Quaye is also exhibiting at Grenaby

 
In Castletown
 
Castletown Civic Centre: festival home to eight artists, including wildlife artist Jeremy Paul, landscape artist Ellie Baker, artist and illustrator Laura Espinosa, textile artist Maureen Kennaugh, and wood carver Gavin Carter.
Demonstrations and other activities:

• Erica Kermode – sculpting animals in clay
• Gavin Carter – wood carving
• Maureen Kennaugh – free machine embroidery: ‘painting with needle, thread and stitch’
• Helen Tate and Kirsten Penzes, IOM art degree graduates – giant installation made of found objects called Friendship
• Daily film screening organised in collaboration with Castletown Chamber of Commerce and IOM College – Keith McIntyre’s film about Moylley yn Burroo, the ‘Drinking Dragon’ rock off the Calf of Man which he studied for a summer

 
Over the three-day festival weekend there will be additional art events, including children’s activities, organised by Castletown Chamber of Commerce and Commissioners – look out for updates on the Castletown Chamber of Commerce and Visit Castletown Facebook pages.
 
In Port Erin
 
Painter Petrina Kent is opening her studio for visitors to view her work, as well as hosting try-out painting sessions for all ages.

Exciting new local developments for Isle of Man Art Festival
 
This year’s Isle of Man Art Festival is set to take place over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend: Saturday 29 April, Sunday 30 April and Monday 1 May 2017. Now into its sixth year, this annual celebration of visual art provides a wealth of inspiration and opportunities to discover local artists, with open access to artist studios, exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations right across the Island.
 
Peel and the west are effectively the spiritual home of the festival. For the four years following its inception, the festival was known as WOSAT – Western Open Studios Art Trail – before expanding to become an all-Island festival last year.
 
‘Last year’s festival attracted more than 1,000 visitors,’ said Myra Gilbert, of the Creative Network committee. ‘Our four successful years in the west gave us a solid foundation on which to expand, and we expect the festival to keep on growing each year. This year we have extended even further, adding venues including an important new hub in Sulby Glen.’
 
Hosted by Sue Quilliam, who works with spinning and wool craft, the new Sulby hub will feature a wealth of diverse and beautiful creativity. Among those taking part are Bill Kelly, who works with pewter, wood carver and sculptor Gavin Carter, and Sara Hogg, who is also a spinner and wool crafter. There will also be work from recent fine art graduate Rosie Wood, as well as beautiful original cards by Julie Roberts and Julia Ashby Smyth.
 
In Peel, Helen Fox is planning an installation with scallop shells in the Sailors Shelter, in the shape of a giant grotto-style structure that people can stand inside.
 
‘I’m aiming to make it a multi-sensory experience for sight, sound and touch, highlighting marine conservation issues and the decline of the fishing industry,’ said Helen. ‘I was inspired by the space in the Shelter when I attended an Isle of Architecture event there.’
 
More than 40 artists are participating in the festival, spanning a huge range of disciplines including painting, illustration, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, print-making and photography – and visitors will have many opportunities to get involved in creative activities.
 
Entrance to studios, demonstrations and exhibition venues for the full three days will be by purchase of a festival passport at £5 (under 18s go free). All venues will be open between 11am and 5pm each day. Festival passports will be available from three weeks in advance of the festival at the House of Manannan among other venues.
 
The Isle of Man Art Festival is organised by The Creative Network, an artists’ cooperative with the shared aim of promoting art and artists on the Island and beyond. Valuable support is provided by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx National Heritage, Peel Commissioners and partner galleries.
 
To stay up to date with news of venues, demos and activities, follow Creative Network IoM on Facebook.