His enigmatic sculptures suddenly appear in the Manx landscape and then vanish just as mysteriously.

But thanks to a tie-up with government, we may get to see talented Tom Cringle’s artworks on a more permanent basis.

His latest creation is a mountain hare originally constructed for Castletown Festival but which is now a feature on the shoreline at Scarlett, having been installed there just before Christmas.

’I’ve had some good feedback. I’m not upsetting anybody - for a change!’ he says.

Tom was referring to the controversy over another of his sculptures, the Moddey Dhoo, which has had quite a turbulent history.

It was damaged in a storm at its first location on top of Peel Hill and when Tom placed it at the entrance to Peel Castle, it was ordered to leave by Manx National Heritage.

MNH insisted that any installations at its historic sites or within the landscape it manage require prior approval. It pointed out that historic sites and areas of the island’s landscape are often archaeological sensitive.

But the Moddey Dhoo’s adventures were far from over - because in September it was stolen from the WI’s tent at the Royal Show.

Tom, a leading Manx fell runner, said: ’It was discovered lying in a hedge between Knockaloe and Peel. Someone saw it and thought it was a real dog! They telephoned me and I took it back to my garage. He was quite badly damaged but I managed to repair him.

’The lady from the WI at the Royal Show had fallen in love with him and he’s now at her home in Port Erin.’

Tom, of Queen Street, Castletown, is a plumber by trade and creates the artworks from wooden pallets in his spare time.

Two of them are now installed at Archallagan plantation - an eagle and the Holly King.

It was the Holly King which first drew the public’s attention to Tom’s work when it suddenly appeared for a short time at Scarlett last winter and then vanished again. This figure from pagan mythology would have been at the height of his powers in mid-winter, having conquered his summertime adversary the Oak King. But even he was no match for Storm Frank and had taken such a battering that Tom had to move him.

On New Year’s Eve, the Holly King re-emerged - on a new site at South Barrule, near the top of the Whisky Run.

But now it seems he has settled down, having found a permanent home at Archallagan.

’DEFA are quite keen to put sculptures in the plantations,’ he said. ’Everybody has been fine about them - it’s only really MNH who were not willing at all to have even a discussion.’

Tom has a couple more sculptures in the pipeline - but he’s keeping details about them and their future location under wraps.

So keep your eyes peeled - you never know what mythical beast or legend of Manx folklore you might spot on our shorelines or hills.