Island's biodiversity 'captures your imagination'

An exhibition of Chrissie Moss's landscape work is on display in Ballasalla

The Isle of Man's biodiversity and colourful coastlines "capture your imagination", an artist has said.

Originally from Lancashire, Chrissie Moss moved to the island about 10 years ago and is now set to exhibit 39 pieces of art at an exhibition showcasing her acrylic depictions of Manx landscapes.

The Coastal Palette opens at Ballasalla Village Hall at 10:00 GMT and runs until 18:00, with the same timings on Sunday.

Ms Moss said: "I have always had an affinity with the sea" and added: "The diverse coastlines, history and heritage of the island just captures your imagination."

Chrissie Moss's paintings include an acrylic piece of Langeness

Creativity clearly runs in Ms Moss's family - her father, uncle and granddad are all artists.

"I have always painted," she explained. "I even have a picture of me having a display in the corner of my Dad's exhibition as a child."

Having studied technical illustration at college, Ms Moss has gone on to specialise in bird, pet and botanical illustration.

"This collection of larger pieces came about as I just wanted to capture the landscapes here on the Isle of Man, which we all love, as best as I can," she said.

"The landscape here varies on the different coasts," she said, adding that how the beaches look with the tides, lighting and clouds "changes every day."

As she lives in Castletown, she said more of her paintings were inspired by places in the south of the island.

"I walk these beaches every day," she said. "You have to get to know your subject very well to get the emotion and the passion across, and I do."