'Ellyn: A Tale of Contemporary Art' is a collaborative artists’ book that celebrates the Isle of Man’s culture, nature, heritage and more in the form of fine art. Coordinated by our Arts Graduate Intern, Olivia Savage, the book aims to create a physical experience for artists and readers.
We now have all of our confirmed invited artists working hard on their artwork for the collaborative artist book, “Ellyn” coming out later this year. We will continue to announce our invited artists one by one, every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of the week, so keep a look out both here and on our social media for our latest announcements. Below we have shared artists 1-16 and we will be continuing to share 17-31 over the next few weeks in another article here.
There's Still Time to Apply
Remember, there are 51 spots total for artists participating in Ellyn, 20 of which we are deciding upon an open call to the public. The deadline to create a piece of work in response to the brief “Isle of Man” is July 2nd.
I can’t wait to see what the hidden artistic talent on the Island has to offer!
Olivia Savage, Arts Graduate Intern
Head over to our “Projects and Partnerships” page to find out more and see the project brief.
Meet the Artists: 1-16
Ellie Baker
Ellie Baker is a landscape painter with a distinct style that draws the viewer in and sets the imagination to work. Her work combines many elements from the local rural land and seascapes. She works in acrylic paint and ink and more recently, has been combining this with oil pastel and coloured pencil. Textured highlights and bursts of intricate detail are a focus of her work. Her pieces range from almost illustrative to semi abstract as she explores different methods of conveying the delights and wonders of the natural world.
My thoughts on the project:
It is wonderful to come together with the wider art community to create a publication that will be used as a point of reference to understand more about the cultural heritage of our Island or about contemporary Manx art. I can't wait to hold a copy and leaf through the pages, taking in each artist's response of what the Island means to them and how they have portrayed this.
Ellie Baker
Adam Berry
"I create work on paper in ink and acrylics mainly although I’ve recently been scaling up and working on wood to create large collage style pieces. I like to portray a scene or a moment in time and leave it open to the viewer for their interpretation as to what’s going on. I include various text and graphic illustrations within the one piece to explore (or sometimes completely ignore) the overall ‘main’ image."
My thoughts on the project:
"I think the Ellyn project is a brilliant idea and long overdue. Having a beautiful book of contemporary art from the Island will be fantastic. It’ll be a great resource for kids in schools and hopefully showcase the huge amount of creative talent that live and work on this tiny isle!"
Adam Berry
Sally Black
"When I was eleven or twelve my Grandfather gave me a home made bright blue easel. Willie Collister was a talented amateur painter and in his ramshackle garden shed would repurpose decorating materials for his Dulux Gloss and distemper versions of old Master artworks. Always patient, he showed me how to grid up a painting using old string, properly sharpen a pencil (always use a knife) and instilled in me the belief that to be creative is a precious, joyful gift. Most importantly he made me grateful to live in such a wild and special place. Years later, now a painter myself, these lessons live on and the ever changing Island landscape with its rich diversity of flora and fauna continue to inspire me."
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"I am very pleased and honoured to be chosen part of this project as the it is my belief that the diversity and talent of Artists on the Isle of Man should be showcased as it is in other areas of the British Isles. This richness could not develop without the stimulus of our environment and Ellyn will provide that essential showcase for the Art and the Biosphere status which we now enjoy."
Sally Black
Vici Blackburn
Vici’s techniques are influenced by the weatherworn surfaces of the Manx coast and landscape, then wrapped with papier-mâché skins. The skins are inspired by her childhood memory of lovingly unwrapping their jewel like Xmas decorations, protected by ageing newspaper folds.
Porcelain is press molded into her own casts and texture is created from many sources including her linocut designs. These repeatedly worked surfaces of clay are under constant revision, referencing the endless remaking of the shoreline, then sanded, oxides applied, and hand painted with underglaze, glazes and gold luster.
My thoughts on Ellyn:
The IOM is an Island rich in beauty & culture and Islanders feel an enormous passion for this little rock that has inspired so many to create work. Our creative community is peppered with familiar names whose work is as much a record of our Island life as any formal written document. It is so important not to lose these names and works, and a book that future generations can enjoy is a wonderful idea. I couldn't feel prouder to be invited to take part. Thank you.
Vici Blackburn
Gavin Carter
Gavin’s personal creative work with wood exudes a love of the material, which has stemmed from a lifelong connection with the natural world. His work is not over laboured through deep thought or meaning but rather seems to centre around an enjoyment of the material itself. Whether he is word turning, scorching, carving or making his assemblages of found individual pieces, Gavin seems to have an innate skill in bringing out the natural beauty of all wood – he makes everyone stop and appreciate the material for what it is, whether it be a wonderful piece of patterned burr elm or a scrappy offcut from the workshop floor.
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"The Ellyn project is well timed. It's an opportunity to take stock, appreciate what we have and count blessings. For me it's created time and space to revisit a familiar subject that is somewhat overdue. Ravens have long been a passion, to be in their presence means that I am in their landscape, their habitat, probably in our uplands, Glen Dhoo, Sartfell or North Barrule. Ravens have a special place in landscape, in culture and myth. Their calls invoke wild places and legends, the piece I`m making will, I hope, connect with both. It will connect those who see, and hopefully touch the piece, with Nature, with our Norse heritage, with a feel for wild places and an opportunity perhaps for a somewhat malign Corvid to distract us from a far more malicious Covid."
Gavin Carter
Bruno Cavellec
"Born out of the necessity to express emotions, thoughts and feelings, my work is mostly autobiographical. Through my own experiences I aim to create a connection. Making art will always be a journey of exploration and self-discovery, this is what stimulates me."
My thoughts about Ellyn:
"Ellyn is giving artists a fantastic opportunity to create something unique which speaks of their special connection with the Isle of Man. I'm very excited about this project, it has the potential to become a great source of inspiration for all generations of Manx People."
Bruno Cavellec
Anna Clucas
Anna Clucas finds inspiration for her bold and expressive oil paintings in the environments surrounding her. Driven by travel, and the exploration of colour, she endeavours to paint the worlds landscapes in a desire to communicate her vision for others to enjoy. Anna graduated with a BA (Hons) from the University of Wolverhampton in the year 2000, and from then has been involved in many exhibitions internationally and locally.
My thoughts about Ellyn:
"The Isle of Man is my home, and has always influenced my paintings, spiritually and emotionally, so to be a part of the Ellyn project, is incredibly significant and exciting. The Island commends its artists to portray honest and distinctive works of art, and to have a platform that will exhibit us together as a collaborative, is a great opportunity to recognise the diversity of talent and creativity that we have here."
Anna Clucas
Julie Collins
"I paint, draw, take photographs and write about art. I bring the outside world into my work. Spending time in the landscape is a great leveller and here I begin to form ideas that I work out in the studio.
My subject matter is nature, whether it is a landscape, figure or bird. I work in paint for its versatility, delicacy and strength. Paint is wonderful and can be transformed into a story on paper, panel or canvas."
My thoughts about Ellyn:
"The Ellyn project is a great record of our diverse contemporary Manx Artists."
Julie Collins
Colleen Corlett
"My work includes stamp design, calligraphy, painting, pastels, stained glass, sandblasted glass, ceramics, tapestry, quilting, crochet and embroidery. My influences are many – seeing something that inspires me to have a go myself. This often means that a topic is explored in various media and for example flowers may be painted, interpreted as tapestries or carved into clay and combined with glass.
My degree was in graphic design and along the way went into teaching. This inspired a love of learning, research and problem solving. That pretty well sums me up. I love learning new things and I love making new things."
Ian Coulson
"The island as a distinct cultural entity and myself within it as an artist is the notion upon which I have built my life. After art school in the UK coming home to the Isle of Man for me was the BIG ART PROJECT of my life – I wanted political and cultural activism, I joined Mec Vannin, I espoused ideal communism, I wanted a self referential, inward looking island, I started to learn to speak Manx, listened to Manx music, lived a life that was closer to nature and tried to be self sufficient, I revered the old ways and earned money fishing whilst living the life of the artist.
And, you know, right now in this time of Covid - with our shared identity and community spirit, and with the grace and the kindness of islanders, I guess that the Isle of Man in lockdown - cut off here as we are like an Amazon tribe, is as near a perfect expression of everything that I felt about the place and my aspirations for it as I have any right to imagine.
I have had the great good luck to be the foundation course tutor at the Isle of Man College for a major part of my adult life so I have worked with generations of wonderful Manx art students who will contribute to the forging of our post Covid future."
Colette Davies
Colette Davies is a Manx Artist and art lecturer predominantly working in 2D through the mediums of oil paint and printmaking. She is often found walking, photographing and painting our landscape in an attempt to evoke its multivarious moods, colours and ambiances. This layer of representative feeling in the images allows for a contemporary take on the art historical Fine Art format.
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"Often with art we look to the past and venerate the 'old masters'. This is relevant and can provide interest and joy. It is vital, however, not to overlook the art of now. We have not had the centuries for history to find us worthy or not, but we are living and responding to the same world as you. We evoke our time and place, feelings and atmospheres. The collection and documentation of contemporary artists within the Ellyn project is so important not only for posterity, but also for the solace, joy, pleasure, recognition and connection that our art can bring to you right now. It is a part of our collective being and island experience."
Nicola Dixon
"Almost three decades as a professional creative has been a meandering path on three themes: the Isle of Man, maritime art and Celtic knot work, primarily in watercolour. Currently prominent is my Archibald Knox inspired knot work, which was in my jewellery at the beginning then paused for a few years as my maritime art career blossomed. Inspiration, exhibitions and a teaching project brought it back , and when I allow myself lose days studying Knox’s work and playing with interlace to understand it more. The process is calming, involving, meditative and has brought new vision and fluidity. Past artists of the Island inform my practice, but I am endeavouring to take it in new directions."
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"The work produced for Ellyn will be a treasury for the island. Artists have the ability to crystallise the essence of place, and our island is a very special treasure. The visual arts and artists need visibility to thrive and grow, and this project will help shine the spotlight their way."
James Duggan
To create art that is both engaging, experimental and transcends a sense of place without the fear of failure. To produce art that transcends the need for external curation and can be introduced directly to the viewer instantly.
My thoughts on ‘Ellyn’:
"Without a national art gallery ‘ellyn’ serves a physical record that we the artists, the visual thinkers and creators currently producing work, striving to engage the viewer and transport them. ELLYN is proof that in spite of the lack of a home, contemporary art and visual culture is alive and well on our Isle and enriches all of our lives. A fine thing indeed."
Helen Fox
"As an educationalist, artist and curator I am really interested in the dynamic between the three and how one affects the other. Exhibitions and publications form landmarks in our cultural history, our young people need these to be inspired to follow in our footsteps."
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"The Ellyn project brings together an interesting combination of artists and will enable people to find out more about our work and how our Island inspires us all."
Colette Gambell
Passionately inspired by the ocean, Colette explores creativity through colour, fragility and our emotive landscape. These elements combined form the basis of her ever evolving artistic language, one haunted by depth, evocative of experience, melding memory and emotion in timeless beauty.
My thoughts on Ellyn:
"The island’s artistic talent is so rich and diverse, it seems only natural to capture a moment in time through our artists’ eyes. As creatives, our devotion to our subject is all encompassing. Art is something we live and breathe, it’s part of our very fabric and connects us in this unique, landscape. Our island offers such beauty through its rugged coastline, green pastures, sweeping hills, enchanting glens and captivating ocean. There’s an energy, an undercurrent, a sense of mystery and freedom inspiring and driving so many to capture its essence.
"It’s an honour to be invited to include work in ‘Ellyn’. We have so much to offer as a creative community, recognising and celebrating the award winning and emerging talent on our doorstep, captured in a timeless keepsake will offer a wonderful snapshot of our generation; telling our story, teaching our children to appreciate the beauty before us, instilling a pride and confidence to bravely follow their creative dreams and paving the way for the artist of the future."
Megan Hindley
“People and the natural world interest me the most. Nearly all of my work reflects this - from small tattoo flash drawings to large scale murals on sides of buildings. I like to play with humor within my pieces, capturing an emotion or facial expression in moments of terror or laughter. Line quality and contrast are important to me, I’ll usually paint with ink and brush, but recently I’ve been experimenting with charcoals and going back to a bit of realism. “
My thoughts on Ellyn:
“I’m so chuffed to be included in the Ellyn project. I think it’s really important to showcase Manx artists. We have such a rich and unique heritage and are incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such diverse natural beauty. I’m excited to see what the other artists each create. I hope it will help inspire a new generation of artists and creatives.”
That concludes the artist reveal for 1-16! We hope you have enjoyed seeing some familiar faces and perhaps learning about a few new ones? We will be continuing to reveal and share artists 17-31 over in another article here.
You can still apply for the artists call - more details here.
