In 2024 the Archibald Knox Forum will be hosting an exhibition celebrating the life and work of the island’s most famous artist.

Between then and now, we will have updates from the forum about how the planning is going, any support they need and maybe even a peak at what they have planned.

Chris Hobdell from the Archibald Knox Forum said that since launching the exhibition, ’volunteers have stated their willingness to help in a number of areas including acting as guides on visits, developing walks to include visiting spots where Knox sat to paint some of his watercolours, fundraising and acting as stewards’.

Mr Hobdell added: ’The feasibility of using a large facility in the north of the island for part of the event is in the preliminary stages of study at present. The Manx Museum have given their blessing to hold the main exhibition at their premises.

’An introduction and six films pertaining to Knox and his life have been completed. These were financed by Culture Vannin, filmed and edited by James Proudfoot and form a very important step in building up a complete resource base for the exhibition.

’As well as the main exhibition of Knox pieces in the Manx Museum there will be talks, films, lectures and visits to places of Knox interest throughout the Isle of Man.

’These will include where he lived, studied and worked, graves and memorials designed by him and locations where Knox painted some of his watercolours. The points above are the reasons why this will be the biggest Knox event ever and why it can only be held in the Isle of Man.

’A project to develop a comprehensive Knox trail using QR Code technology is in the early stages of planning.

’So far we have located 75 Knox pieces which will be available for the main exhibition and a photograph of one of the exquisite examples is shown.

’It is a very rare silver, enamel and blister pearl biscuit box dated 1900. Only two examples are known in the world although others, without enamel, do exist.

’The next stage of the project is to start our fundraising campaign.’