An annual art exhibition will open at a popular Isle of Wight attraction this week.

Landscape Paintings of the Isle of Wight will begin on Friday , November 8, at Ventnor Botanic Garden.

The event was established in 1984 with early exhibitions in Shanklin and St Lawrence arranged by Professor Robin McInnes and Andy Butler, both of Ventnor, which initially focussed on the local history and art of the Undercliff coast in particular.

Scroll through above to see photos of the exhibition throughout the years.

By 1994 a much larger display space was required and the exhibition moved to Ventnor
Winter Gardens. The exhibition that year, comprising over 300 works, is believed to have
been the largest ever display of historic oil paintings, watercolours and prints of the Island.

Robin aimed to usher in a new golden era of Island art after he noticed that the 1870s to the 1890s were a purple patch for the genre.

The exhibition has had several homes throughout the years, and is now a regular event at Ventnor Botanic Garden.

Robin has run a competition for Island landscape artists since 1992 with cash prizes, and authored Landscape Paintings of the Isle of Wight – 25 years of Art Exhibitions in 2009.

The book showcased a sample of the 6,000 paintings that had been displayed over the years of the exhibition by 134 artists.

This year’s exhibition features works by 30 artists, some of whom have exhibited annually since 1994.

Robin McInnes said: “I really believe that the last 40 years will be seen as another great era for Island landscape and maritime art.”

The exhibition is on from Friday, November 8, to Sunday, November 17, from 10am to 4pm daily (closes at 3pm on Sunday, November 17).