Local artist Nicola Dixon tells us about her most recent travel grant award from Isle of Man Arts Council
Please tell us about yourself and your artform:
I am a designer and artist living in Peel, and have spent most of my life on the Isle of Man, with a few educational and artistic adventures off island along the way. I didn’t train as an artist, and have learned watercolour and design as I have gone along, and have a colourful style that is recognisable. It seems to have worked as I have been a full time artist for over 30 years.
In the past few years I have taken on a few bigger projects, notably Douglas Promenade is decorated with my celtic designs on banners and 12 laser cut metal screens can be seen in the Market Place, Peel.
Making a living as an artist is also an artform. You have to keep moving forward. So much more is possible these days with digital printing. I am learning about putting my art on to products as well as prints. It is exciting and challenging at the same time. I have a little studio shop full of colour in the yard at Pinewood Studio at Lower Bishopscourt Farm, Kirk Michael which I open on Saturdays, and Manx National Heritage has a selection of my digitally printed work too. These all help me do what I do.
What type of funding did you apply for?
Travel Grant
How did the IOM Arts Council help you?
The IOM Arts Council funded my travel, accommodation and shipping of artwork and Douglas Promenade banners for the International Day of Celtic Art Conference in the St Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in June.
How did you find the application process for funding?
As this was my first funding application from the Isle of Man Arts Council it took a lot of time and headspace to pull all the documentation together correctly, and write my CV. It is good to know the process for future applications, and be a bit more prepared for what is involved.
Tell us about the event and your experience there:
The International Day of Celtic Art Conference was gathering of Celtic artists, craftspeople and scholars from USA, Canada, Scotland, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. There were presentations about our varied but connected work for 3 days, and displays of beautiful artworks and demonstrations too. We then went for a tour of early Christian sites in the Lecale peninsula of County Down, many of which had links to St Patrick.
My presentation was titled “The Deer’s Cry, Archibald Knox and me; a creative and spiritual journey’. My Celtic work is very much inspired by Archibald Knox, and two of my key works recently are based on lines from ‘The Deer’s Cry’ otherwise known as St Patrick’s Breastplate. It is an ancient hymn/chant/lorica with a history linked to mythology, pagan and Christian belief systems that is attributed to St Patrick. The Deer’s Cry also inspired Archibald Knox to create his illuminated masterwork of its words. Downpatrick is where St Patrick is buried, and the venue, the St Patrick Centre, celebrates his life and legacy in the spread of Christianity. St Patrick has links to the Isle of Man, specifically Peel, so it was a pleasure and a challenge to research then weave all sorts of connected threads together for my presentation. I haven’t talked about my work like this before to an audience, and knowing it was going to be live streamed and recorded as well helped keep me focussed. There is room for improvement as it was an ambitious theme, but it was a good start.
It was inspiring to meet my creative tribe. I learned a lot, and had my vision broadened. I realised I had been focusing primarily on a Manx celtic art. It was fascinating to hear the talks by the other experts in their areas of the artform, see their work in the exhibition, and have the opportunity for relaxed conversations and a laugh over a Guinness with them too. I now have celtic artist friends around the world!
Would you apply again to IOM Arts Council?
Yes. It helps turn opportunities into reality. Having applied and attended once I can see Arts Council support like this is invaluable for future participation at off island events…the costs really add up. Juggling it all financially with being a self-employed artist is tricky. With the basics covered, particularly the accommodation ones, it made it easier for me to invest my time and energy in the research and preparation it all. You want to do it properly as you are representing yourself, your culture and country. These things always take way longer than you expect, especially something new like this, and it does have a financial impact short term, and you never know what doors it will open or what will come from it long term. Thank you to the IOM Arts Council for supporting me in this way.
