THE Isle of Man’s stunning and colourful vistas are perfectly captured in oils by Manx artist Tracey Dean, whose solo exhibition Coast to Coast opens tomorrow (Friday) in the Sayle Gallery.
Tracey, who paints under her maiden name of Dean, uses rich and vibrant colour to emphasise the beauty of the island’s coastline and landscape.
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She has had numerous commissions, with the largest being the Plains of Heaven from Chibbanagh Plantation which will be on display at the exhibition.
A student of Norman Sayle at the Isle of Man College, Tracey went on to complete a degree in Graphic Design and won the Ella Olsen Scholarship, spending a year at Idaho University in the USA studying graphic design and life drawing.
After working for many years in London, she returned to the island to design for clients, including the then Department of Tourism and the Post Office and she is currently working on a new stamp issue for the Post Office that features paintings of six harbour lighthouses in Tracey’s unmistakable style.
She said: ‘The Isle of Man is such a rich and varied landscape just crying out to be captured on canvas. I like the medium of oil to work in with its rich colours and I often work ‘wet on wet’.
I try to make my brush strokes more light and spontaneous to add to the freshness of the painting and I’m learning all the time about colour and composition and the effects that can be achieved with them.’
As its title implies, the exhibition will feature coastal views and landscapes from across the island, making use of light and the seasons to remind us of its natural beauty.
In addition, eagle-eyed visitors should be able to find the tiny rabbit that Tracey incorporates into all her paintings – a playful touch that is part of the charm of her art.
‘I took up painting in 1989 as a hobby when I was given my first set of oil paints,’ said Tracey.
‘In the beginning I was doing a couple of paintings a year when I could find the time but now I’m painting full time and am happy to accept commissions.
‘I go out sketching and take reference photographs and then continue the work in the studio and have recently expanded my range to include watercolour which I plan to explore further.’
The Sayle Gallery is in the Villa Marina Arcade on Harris Promenade, Douglas. It is open between 10am and 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, between 1.30pm and 4.30pm on Sundays and 1pm and 5pm on Mondays. Entry is free.
For more information call the gallery on 674557 or visit www.saylegallery.com
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