Exhibition to celebrate 'forgotten' Manx artist

It will run from next week until 1 November

A Manx artist's work will be put on display at the Rushen Heritage Centre from next week. 

From Tuesday (9 September), the Edward Ashton Cannell: A Manxman and his art exhibition will be open to the public. 

It will run until 1 November. 

Cannell, who was born in 1927 in Port Erin, was one of Britain's last traditional landscape painters. 

The exhibition has been curated by Christa Viohl, a volunteer with Rushen Heritage Trust.

Christa says the final exhibition of the season honours an artist who was, for a long time, almost forgotten in the Island. 

"We want to celebrate his outstanding art and enable everyone to discover more about his life and work.

"Cannell was one of Britain’s last traditional landscape painters. After studying at Liverpool College of Art, he returned to the Island and taught at Douglas School of Art, before moving to London, where he was an art teacher at various schools, in addition to being a senior assessor for the Metropolitan Regional Examinations Board.

"Even after having settled in London, he kept coming back to the Isle of Man to paint and visit friends and family. 

"He was a fascinating character and an exceptional artist with a special kind of humour – a well-liked and very kind person."