The most easterly of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote, is home to a population of around 127,000 people and is a unique melting pot of African, European and South American influences. Thanks to its historic position as a staging post between the Old World and the New.

Indeed, over one million British and Irish tourists are expected to board flights to Lanzarote during the course of this year. Representing a marked increase in tourist numbers lat year. With many opting to visit during the busy Christmas and New Year period.

Many of these visitors end up falling in love with the island and investing in Lanzarote property. Which is then either rented out to other holiday makers or used as a base for more permanent relocation to the island. Which has a growing expatriate community of over 6,000 British residents.

Much of Lanzarotes appeal to the British and Irish markets lies in the fact that the island offers more than just sunshine alone. Like the other Canary Islands the lifestyle here is enviable – with the majority of time spent outdoors enjoying the islands volcanic scenery, great beaches and unique cultural attractions.

Manrique was studying his craft and hanging out with the likes of Andy Warhol in New York when package tourism first started to take off in Spain. Alert to the damage that this could cause to his birthplace Manrique returned home to ensure that his beloved Lanzarote was not buried beneath a sea of five star concrete.

As a result of his efforts Lanzarote has largely been spared the type of over development now commonly found in other Spanish sun spots. High rise buildings are banned, advertising hoardings are outlawed and all of the islands three main tourist resorts are well contained.

The artist and architect also sought to create an alterative to the water parks and golf courses that were built as tourist attractions elsewhere in Spain. By instead using Lanzarotes volcanic landscape to fashion sites such as the Jameos del Agua – where he turned a collapsed lava tube into a breathtaking underground grotto.