Ramsey-based artist Michael Starkey is looking to extend his current exhibition, Back in Time for a Holiday, because it has proved so popular.

The exhibition, which focusses on holidays in Ramsey in the 1950s and 1960s, brings the theme to life through fashion, fabrics, [paintings and photography. There is even music to evoke a bygone era performed by singer Adele Wyngaard.

It has already sparked many memories from those visiting especially the black and white images by the late Ramsey photographer Dennis Reed. Michael was given a box of Dennis’ photos when he died and his family has given him permission to use them for the exhibition.

Michael said: ’The photographs were quite important because it’s a social event, meant to bring people together. It’s been fantastic, hearing people almost squeal with delight as they recognise people in the photos. I’ve been able to name nearly all of them.’

In one especially evocative image, the three young children playing in a partly demolished building, were recognised by their sister who visited the exhibition. She told Michael that they had been a family of 18, the largest on the island at the time.

Michael studied at Kensington Road Art School where he was taught by Norman Sayle and Eric Houlgrave. When he left he spent most of his working life at the Post Office, but would get up at six every morning to paint before he went to work.

As well as paintings he designed many stamps from first day covers to Christmas stamps. He also won both categories in the Singer and Freidlander art competition in 1999.

Having retired early he now has a studio built at his home where he paints in oils doing mostly commissions and illustrations, but he has also been designing fabrics, some of which have been made into dresses by dressmaker Bernadette Bevan. One was worn at a Fashion for Life show at the Villa and auctioned for charity but another will be modelled at the exhibition.

The large oil paintings on display show holiday views in a number of ways and were originally painted as posters for the MER: one especially atmospheric image is of a woman in the 1930s waiting for an electric tram in the snow: ’She’s going Christmas shopping and waiting for the tram by the Liverpool Arms. It’s in the exhibition because Christmas is a holiday too.’

Michael’s exhibition is on in the Ramsey Methodist Church hall until Saturday, 10am-4pm every day. Adele Wyngaard will be singing from 2pm on Saturday.

by Julie Blackburn

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