Manx poetry and folklore have provided the inspiration for a new collection of work by a local landscape painter.

Graham Rider opened his latest exhibition, entitled ’Island Magic’, at the Hodgson Loom Gallery, Laxey, on Saturday.

Describing himself as a ’traditional landscape painter’, Graham said that, not only did he look for an eye-catching piece of scenery to inspire his paintings, but also from some of the island’s poets, writers and photographers, in particular the work of folklorist and Manx cultural icon Mona Douglas.

One particular painting has been influenced by two of her well-known verses celebrating the Manx coastline.

’I have borrowed the title from her last collection of poems and have been particularly influenced by the poems "On Andreas Sands" and "The Gulls", which speaks of the whirling momentum of the birds over the landscape,’ said Graham.

’The paintings in this exhibition explore the coastline in all its contrasts, the character of the sea around the island and its rugged coastline.

’ I looked at things like the rain coming in off Niarbyl, waves crashing in, the mists and the changes of colour from grey to blue to emerald, and the beautiful green of the Irish Sea, clean and crisp throwing up stones and seaweed.

’I like also to build associations with memories and feelings inspired by the landscape and especially in these hinterlands between land and sea.’

’Island Magic’ is open to view until Saturday, November 2.