Longhouse Collective, a group of artists and artisan craftspeople, saw its official launch at the Grenaby Studios.

Founded by jewellery maker Claire Pearse, artist Nicola Dixon and wood turner and sculptor Graham Hall, the aim has been to offer an affordable, quality studio space in tranquil surroundings, where a community of artists can produce quality work which can be showcased in the on-site studio gallery and shop.

The initiative also offers the opportunity for artists and craftspeople in different media to collaborate on projects .

Claire Pearse has been making jewellery and selling it at Grenaby Studios since 2016 under the name Element Isle.

She creates beautiful individual pieces in silver, often using items gathered on the island’s beaches such as shells as moulds.

Claire said: ’I started the shop and gradually brought other people’s work in here bit by bit.’

Graham Hall has been working in the studio next door, crafting items such as bowls and sculpting in natural wood and selling his pieces alongside those of Claire and photographer Mark Boyd who has been shortlisted for Outdoor Photographer of the Year for the last two years.

Renowned local artist Nicola Dixon has now joined them, bringing her distinctive designs to mugs, postcards and cushions as well as original art. She explained that she has plans to diversify into other items such as fabrics and scarves which would be a good fit with the jewellery. She said: ’The idea is that we produce new work between us and work we can collaborate on.’

She has already designed a logo for the Freya candle, from Breeze candles, sold exclusively at Grenaby, whilst Graham has crafted elegant wooden candle holder to go with it.

Another member of the collective, Tracey Walker, specialises in handmade soaps and bath bombs: her Oaty Goaty bar uses oats and Manx goat’s milk from Bride and is very good for youngsters, and anyone with allergies or dry skin.

Other members of the collective include Rosie Glassey, whose Ballalona Arts studio next door produses engraved slate and botanical plaster castings.

It seems that, as with the food industry, local artisan art and craft products are having a moment. A pre-Christmas event at Grenaby Studios attracted 1,000 on one of the days it was on.

Claire said: ’The demand has been so great.

’People want quality design and handmade and they want the provenance, the story that goes with it.’