Isle of Man Arts Council - Queer Artists to Follow

LGBT+ History Month in the UK runs in February to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 abolition of Section 28. The month is intended as a means to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, the LGBT+ community while celebrating its achievement and diversity and making it more visible.

From 11am on Sat 26th February, the Isle of Man’s FIRST ‘Queer Artisan Market’ will be taking place in Kensington Arts Dance Studio. A variety of queer artists are being invited to exhibit their work, and network with other like-minded creatives.

Ahead of the Queer market at Kensington Arts, we've gathering a list of Queer Artists to follow on the island (many of which will be featuring at the market) in order to celebrate our creative LGBTQ talent here.

Pink Toaster Art

She/Her

I am an artist with an all inclusive world view as a human.... I would say that Queer Artists have an alternative outlook to what is deemed a "normal perspective."
Alice Armstrong

Pink Toaster Art is the pseudonym of visual artist Alice Armstrong. Having a degree in Visual Communications from Leeds University, Alice is becoming more widely known for her contribution to the art scene on the Island. She has a growing passion for creating mural arts and is working towards a tattoo apprenticeship in her free time.

You can find her recent work at @pinktoaster_art @pinktoaster_tattoo

Paint Dump

She/Her

When creating artwork, Rachel Tumelty (aka Paint Dump) describes herself as being primarily a painter with a focus on abstract painting which is what she specialised in during her Fine Art BA. Since graduating, Rachel has continued to paint the abstract and has recently discovered the world of creating artwork digitally. Whether working with traditional painting methods or digital drawing methods, Rachel finds herself using colour and form the most invigorating part of her practice.

Throughout art history and history in general for that matter, 'Queerness' has been somewhat hidden or disguised. I think that to document and celebrate the queer experience and identity within art is essential in creating a totally liberated art community on the island.
Rachel Tumelty aka Paint Dump

Instagram: @paint_dump

Claire McKenna - CMcK Art

Claire started CMcK Art as a self taught artist using a mixture of traditional and digital art to create everything from stickers to wall murals and business logos. Now a published children’s book illustrator there isn’t much Claire would shy away from and is always open for commission requests and new challenges.

Equality, acceptance and awareness for the LGBTQ community has always been important to me, local and otherwise and I look for ways in which I can give back to the island's community, especially since they have been so supportive and welcoming for my trans wife and I. Recently I have been raising money for the islands LGBT youth group with the proceeds of some of my prints.
The island is so lucky to have so many queer creatives to be able to inspire younger generations. Whether it is through the amazing music scene or visual artists like myself, there is so much representation for the LGBTQ community and it is done in such an amazing and positive light. It lays the foundations for young and fresh creatives to feel like they can also achieve success.
Claire McKenna

Instagram + Facebook @cmck.art

Vincent Finery

They/Them

Kai Varetto aka 'Vincent Finery' is the Island's first Drag King. Vincent only started getting into drag last year and has performed at many shows with the local drag queens. Vincent is non-binary and say that they are still finding their roots but so far offer spoken word poetry as well as an odd bit of comedy and in this up and coming show on the 26th February they'll be performing their first lip sync piece! Vincent aims to have a full routine to introduce their new persona in the near future at Fenella Beach's Drag viewings at Roxs so keep an eye out for that!

We are all told when we are small that we can be whatever we want. However unfortunately, as time goes by, the realisation for some of us is that without having certain privileges when working extremely hard towards something, this statement can seem unrealistic. Whether viewed on a casual Thursday night on the Isle of Man or on mainstream Television, seeing how Drag Art can be as wacky and weird with raw emotional passion to something political, can show that not everything is impossible. Sometimes starting small can be the first step.
Vincent Finery

@staywild_1396

This list is always growing but if you think there is someone missing from this list, please let us know! We love finding out about new creatives on the scene. Email iomartscouncil@gov.im.

Alice Dudley

Alice Dudley is a local artist who specialises in embroidery and printmaking. With a Fine Art degree from Falmouth University, much of her work is inspired by traditional women’s crafts and the merging of the historical and the contemporary.

The arts have always been a safe haven for queer people. Many Queer people find a safe space and a sense of belonging within the creative community - permission to be your authentic self and to connect with people who have had the same experiences as you.
Queer creatives are often at the forefront of the creative scene, creating work which gives a voice to an often marginalised and underrepresented community.
Alice Dudley

Facebook + Instagram: @alicedudleyart

Cecile Wood

Cecile is bisexual and makes earrings under the name Ego Crafts. Cecile sells these at Renegade Vintage in Tower House along with some bleach painted t shirts. Cecile makes the earrings in their spare time due to the fact that they study music at the college and plays in a band. Cecile started making earrings about four months ago and has received a lot of support since. Cecile says that they're particularly grateful to get pictures and messages from people who had bought them as Christmas presents.

Having queer creatives on the island really helps to create a safer and more comfortable space for many people as it helps to not only form greater more personal relationships within certain groups but also with some people it can help to create a platform to share news on LGBTQ+ issues and news.
Cecile Wood

Instagram: @egocrafts

Siobhan Morris

My name is Siobhan (but everyone calls me Shiv!). I'm a proud bisexual who loves to find new and creative ways to express myself! I’ve been truly inspired by the amazing story’s I’ve heard since I reached out to other people in our community, and I wanted to create something that people can wear with pride, while knowing the funds raised will be helping other members of our community live the life they were born to live!

Instagram: @sioboing

David Britton

David Britton is a newcomer to the local art scene starting with colourful acrylic paintings before more recently moving into digital and hand-drawn illustrations with a main focus towards local subject matter/styles, including Celtic knot work.

I think we are lucky on the island to have such a prosperous and nurtured creative community, and as an LGBT or Queer creator I like to create things that anyone can appreciate and connect with. I just tend to (not always) like to do it with a bit more colour, showing both my pride of who I am and where I come from.
David Britton

Instagram: @davidbritton

Nathan Grace

My practice renders the concept of hyper reality with paint, exploring the fluid spectrum of real and fiction. I utilise digitally sourced and imagined imagery to communicate the duality of a digital world; The visual language of real life and on-screen simultaneously merged on a surface to picture the hyper real state of our current Being. I have found through my practice that paint as a medium has a unique ability to capture something between the spiritual and the material. It’s haptic, tactile touch communicates intimacy about faces, forms and abstract spaces. It speaks of the physical and spiritual dimension of human experience.

The Queer creative scene sheds light, colour and diversity to an already beautiful culture and history, enriching it further and celebrating Manxies of all kinds. Our island gem offers an inspirational base for expression, and from this, queer creatives can share their perspective for the wider community to appreciate, and create an even stronger community of understanding and love.
Nathan Grace

Instagram: @nathangraceartist