Isle of Man residents have been left mystified after a series of tiny houses popped up across the island overnight.
Taking to Facebook, locals have shared stunning images of the intricate houses – which world-renowned street artists Anonymouse Mmx have now claimed responsibility for.
Measuring on average just 12 inches high, the houses feature miniature hand-crafted pieces of furniture, from dinky beds to intricately carved front doors.
Isle of Man residents have been left mystified after a series of tiny houses popped up across the island overnight
Taking to Facebook, locals have shared stunning images of the intricate houses – which world-renowned street artists Anonymouse Mmx have now claimed responsibility for
The quirky shelters quickly caught the attention of locals and social media was abuzz trying to work out who had created them.
One tiny shelter at Bradda Head on the coastline has been designed to look like a 19th century tower, with a regal banqueting table and chairs installed inside.
Meanwhile, at the other side of the island, close to dramatic glens and waterfalls stands a more rustic abode.
It features a comfy bed and even a miniature map of the island, with all of the details marked on it.
Measuring on average just 12 inches high, the houses feature miniature hand-crafted pieces of furniture, from dinky beds to intricately carved front doors
The quirky shelters quickly caught the attention of locals and social media was abuzz trying to work out who has created them
The Swedish art collective Anonymouse Mmx started constructing mice-sized scenery in 2016.
Using a pseudonym, Anonymouse Mmx member Parlan Mousekewitz explained: ‘It started with us just wanting to build something, and then the focus point shifted onto the stories of Astrid Lindgren and the movies of Walt Disney and Don Bluth.
‘We believe that at some point most kids like to imagine that there is a world parallel to ours wherein small animals live quite like we do but using things that we have lost.’
All of the Anonymouse Mmx scenes are built from a mix of materials, including wire, stone and wood.
The most recent designs were built in Malmo, Sweden, before being transported to the Isle of Man.
The artists say the art works, which took four months to construct, will stay on the island.
All of the Anonymouse Mmx scenes are built from a mix of materials, including wire, stone and wood. The most recent designs were built in Malmo, Sweden, before being transported to the Isle of Man
Tiny chairs can be seen through the window of one little house (left), while a miniature artwork can be seen hanging on the wall of another shelter (right)
The artists say the art works, which took four months to construct, will stay on the island
The Isle of Man tourism board is currently creating a trail map so that inquisitive visitors will be able to easily locate the houses.
The fairy-sized shelters are certainly a fitting addition for the Isle of Man.
The self-governing British dependency is proud of its diverse culture and heritage – built on legends and folklore stories and tales of giants and fairies.
Fairies, or more accurately the ‘little people’, ‘little ones’ or ‘little fellows’ as they are locally referred, were said to intervene in the lives of the ordinary people and many of the original customs and superstitions live on.
Unlike fairies from English fairy tales, the little people are mischievous and spiteful creatures, most often found hunting on horseback with a pack of hounds around them.
The fairy-sized shelters are certainly a fitting addition for the Isle of Man. The self-governing British dependency is proud of its diverse culture and heritage – built on legends and folklore stories and tales of giants and fairies
One tiny shelter at Bradda Head on coastline has been designed to look like a historic tower with a tiny banqueting table and chairs installed inside (left), while on the other side of the island, close to dramatic glens and waterfalls, stands a more rustic abode (right)
The Isle of Man tourism board is currently creating a trail map so that inquisitive visitors will be able to easily locate the houses
They are to be treated with the upmost respect – ask anyone on the Isle of Man and they will tell you that it is custom for locals and visitors alike to give the Little People a greeting when passing over the famous ‘fairy bridge’, for various fates await non-believers.
Commenting on the arrival of Anonymouse Mmx’s little houses, a spokesperson from the Isle of Man tourism board said: ‘The houses that have appeared are absolutely beautiful – everyone is having lots of fun hunting them down, especially the local children.
‘When we spotted them on social media the other day we couldn’t quite believe it.’
Anonymouse Mmx added: ‘Although we usually feel more comfortable around mice, when we discovered that the Isle of Man is one of the few places in the world where, if you look in the right places, fairies may still be found, we thought it would be fun to create some houses for their local mini inhabitants.’