Those wishing to start their Christmas shopping early have been urged to consider buying works of art from some of the island’s best-known artists.

Artist and gallery curator Julia Ashby Smyth opened the affordable art show at the Hodgson Loom gallery, Laxey, which will run until Friday, December 5.

The fair contains a huge number of locally-created original works or art, along with a range of limited prints, and Julia has made sure that no piece costs more than £100.

’I’ve organised this exhibition and art market because I thought there wasn’t anywhere where you could buy art work like this,’ said Julia.

’There are so many art shows and craft fairs on in the run up to Christmas, but invariably you don’t get the wall space, just tables for crafts to sell.

’I thought there should be the opportunity to have an art fair where they can hang their pictures and, instead of it being on for just one weekend, it would be on for a whole month.

’As it goes on, as pieces are sold and are taken away, new pieces will take their place, so the exhibition should be a new experience over the next few weeks.’

Work created by artists such as Colette Davies, Kate Summerville, Neil Milsom, Rosie Wood, and Simon Park, along with many more, feature in the fair.

’Ellie Baker has done a fabulous picture of a hare that will be used for the Christmas card for the Manx Blind Welfare,’ said Julia.

’She has already had people desperate to buy it, but she has very kindly kept it for this exhibition, which is wonderful, and there are pieces here that I would have naturally assumed would have been worth well over £200.

’They are all artists whose work regularly sells for a lot more than what is on offer here, so this is a rare chance to take advantage of some absolute bargains.’