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New exhibition honours 'forgotten' Manx artist

A new art exhibition honouring a Manx painter who was "for a long time forgotten" is music genre rouletteto open in the south of the island.

The display, called Edward Ashton Cannell: A Manxman and His Art, will run from Tuesday until 1 November at Rushen Heritage Centre on Bridson Street.

Born in Port Erin in 1927, Cannell was a landscape painter who focused on maritime watercolours, having studied at the Douglas School of Art under the influence of Archibald Knox.

Curator Christa Viohl said: "We want to celebrate his outstanding art and enable everyone to discover more about his life and work."

The display "honours an artist who was for a long time almost forgotten on the island", she said, adding that Cannell was "one of Britain's last traditional landscape painters".

After studying at the Liverpool College of Art, Cannell took up the profession full-time in 1973, and returned to the island to teach at Douglas School of Art.

He subsequently moved to London, - where he taught at a number of schools.

"Having settled in London, he kept coming back to the Isle of Man to paint and visit friends and family", said Ms Viohl, adding that he was a "fascinating character and an exceptional artist".

Cannell died in London in 1994.

His work has been on display at the Royal Academy of Arts, as well as the Paris Salon.

It marks the final exhibition of the season at Rushen Heritage Centre before it closes over the winter, opening only for activity sessions on select days.

The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 until 16:00 BST.

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