The Post Office’s latest money-making stamps are based on artists from the island.

The organisation hopes to do more business with collectors with its collection based on lecturers who inspired successive generations at the Douglas School of Art.

The loss-making Post Office makes money from stamps which are popular collectors’ items from across the world - and it produces collections frequently.

While this year marks the centenary of the school as a publicly-funded educational establishment its history extends back into the 19th century.

Graduates of the school have earned a reputation for high achievement in many areas of art and design worldwide and all recognise their debt to the inspirational individuals who fostered their creative beginnings.

The school has produced prominent names such as Archibald Knox, Norman Sayle and John Miller Nicholson, all of whom also worked as lecturers at the school.

The stamps display the works of some of the island’s most important artists and will provide information behind the artwork, its artist, and their relationship with the Douglas Art School.

Ian Coulson, artist and former Douglas School of Art student, tutor and foundation course leader 1987-2016, who also contributed to the issue text said: ’I’m so excited to be involved in the design of my first stamp. As a teenage art student I was in awe of David Gentleman’s stamp designs for the UK Post Office.

’I’m really happy to be joining the several of my very talented students who have already seen their work published by the Isle of Man Post Office.’

Maxine Cannon, general manager Isle of Man Stamps and Coins, said: ’This beautiful and versatile collection is the product of a fruitful and successful collaboration between many involved and we are very grateful to be able to support Manx culture through the promotion of local artwork and local artists.’

The Douglas Art School collection is available as Set and Sheet Set, Sheetlet, Presentation Pack and as First Day Cover. As an additional product this collection is available as a self-adhesive booklet of 10 stamps.

The Douglas School of Art was established in the 1880s ’to promote the growth of industrial art, to supply training for those adopting art as a profession and to foster public taste in arts and crafts’.

Over the years, the school flourished and evolved in to what is now University College Isle of Man (UCM).