Public art scheme given additional £5,000 from Ramsey Commissioners

Four mural boards have been created by local artists for the town

A trial scheme for painted mural boards around Ramsey has been given an additional £5,000 by Ramsey Commissioners. 

The money will mean 17 new pieces of artwork can be created for the town which will support local artists.

Ramsey Commissioner Lamara Craine said the project is adding 'character' whilst 'improving' the culture and believes they are 'brightening' up the streets.

Initially, four murals were designed on local themes including the TT, folklore, wildlife and the coastal landscape - with a budget of £200 per artist. 

Leanne Higgins, owner of Pink Seaweed and the artist of 'Foxglove and the Bee' said: "Ramsey is blooming lovely, and it’s full of people who genuinely care about it. As artists, this was our chance to quietly make some noise about how special this place is. Everywhere you look, there’s creativity, passion, and a real sense of community. It’s turning into a creative hotspot, and I absolutely love that! More, more, more!"

Ali Kennish, bar manager at Bar Logo said “I think it’s a great idea to brighten up the town. So many buildings have just bare walls. It’s great to see some colour and life brought into them. I really enjoy seeing Leanne’s artwork on the side of Bar Logo. I hope to see more around town in future.”

Marianne Hatchard, local artist and co-business owner of Ninth Circle tattoo shop said: “My mural pays homage to my favourite creatures from Manx folklore. Drawing inspiration from the powerful waves on the Island's shores, I've brought these legends to life with vibrant colours. This is my way of celebrating the unique culture of the Isle of Man and adding a splash of colour to our beautiful town.”

Tania Dolores of Tania Dolores Shoes & Accessories said: “I love to support local artists. I think Marianne’s work is amazing. I want to personally thank her for making my shop more beautiful.”  

Ramsey Commissioner Lamara Craine said: “I’m delighted that the members of the board see the value in having art in our town. I’m just really humbled that our resident artists would give their time and effort for such low reward. They really deserve so much more than we can afford. But I know they do it because they want to make our town a more colourful place to live. 

“We need homes for these awesome spectacles. There’s lots of space in Ramsey town centre for them to be erected but many property owners are reluctant to have them mounted on their walls. The folks at Ramsey Town Commissioners workshop are qualified and capable to mount the boards free of charge onto walls once we have received permission from the owners. Come on landlords, let’s make Ramsey beautiful again.

“It’s been absolutely wonderful working with some of the incredibly talented artists we have on this island. We’ve collaborated on ideas and working together so that their incredible skills can be showcased around Ramsey."

Property owners interested in providing a space for artwork boards, are asked to contact Lamara Craine directly on lamara.crainetc@rtc.gov.im before the end of April.