Christmas starts this weekend for the Isle Gallery, based at Tynwald Mills, St Johns.

This Sunday sees the launch of their annual Christmas group exhibition, ’The Manx Affordable Christmas show’, which contains artwork produced by some of the best Manx artists that are currently represented by the gallery, with all artwork below a ceiling price tag of £500.

There is also the launch of the gallery’s innovative ’Postcard Lottery’, where small, postcard-sized pieces of art works, produced by some of the more well-known and respected artists from the Isle of Man.

Kate Jerry, artist and curator of exhibitions at the Isle Gallery, said that the postcard lottery has proved to be a highly-anticipated part of the gallery’s Christmas events.

’The Postcard Lottery has become hugely popular with the public, with all postcards usually selling within a week to 10 days,’ said Kate.

’This event is a great talking point at the gallery, and helps generate a small amount of funding for the gallery.

’Each artwork costs £20 and is an opportunity to have beautiful artworks from your favourite artists like Adam Berry, Jeremy Paul, Colette Gambell, Mark Boyd, Celia Kaye, Catherine James, Anna Clucas, Win Norton, Kate Jerry and newer to the gallery, Kate Summerville to name just a few.’

The gallery have also organised a Christmas art crawl, which takes place next weekend across various locations in the west of the island.

The market-style art trail event takes place in the House of Manannan, the Pilates Isle of Man studio on Peel harbour, Isle Contemporary at Tynwald Mills and at the picturesque PineWood Studio Furniture at Bishop’s Court, Kirk Michael.

The crawl will take place between Friday, November 30 to Sunday, December 2, and is linked with the festive lights switching on in Peel, and also the launch of a new ’Aossi studio’ at the PineWood Studios site.

’It is a family event in which you will be free to roam the venues with a downloadable venue guide,’ said Kate.

’With so much going on in conjunction with this event, prepare yourself for a serious weekend of merriment and hand made Christmas shopping experience direct from your local makers.’

More details are available from the Isle Gallery facebook page.