Painters Chrissie Moss and Sally Black opened their display at the Engine House, in Castletown, last weekend.

Chrissie’s collection is a series of 18 paintings of Manx birds, whilst Sally’s is a mix of large and colourful paintings of soft toy creatures that she has made herself, along with a range of individually-painted ceramic pots.

Chrissie said that she decided to take a different approach after her last exhibition, held last year at the Hodgson Loom gallery, featured a range of different styles and genres.

’This time I have stuck to just one style, and have created a range of paintings that are quite singular in theme’ said Chrissie.

’Whereas during my last exhibitions I had a large mix of different types of paintings and drawings, this time I have focused on painting Manx birds.

’One medium and one theme.’

Chrissie chose local bird life as her theme to help make a point about the vulnerability of the species featured.

’I wanted to paint the Manx birds, as I wanted to draw attention to the fact that a lot of the birds are endangered, and it seems that they won’t be here for much longer,’ she said.

’The curlew was my starting point with this. They winter and breed here, and used to be quite common, but now you can only see them in certain areas.

Sally chose to paint her ceramics, after being inspired by one of her hobbies.

’I am a bit ashamed to tell people that I collect vintage knitting patterns, purely because they make me laugh,’ said Sally.

’A lot of the images on the pots have come from knitting patterns and also from old pulp fiction novels I have painted and are based around stories I make up.

’The creatures are called little friends, and I made each one myself out of vintage fabrics.

’I then set them all up and painted them. They seem to me like they each have a different character, and are just so humorous.’

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