Ice Track – Baffin Island

"There is so much unexpected colour in glaciers, icebergs and icecaps. Evening skies were a painter’s heaven: strips of pink, orange and yellow set against indigo sea."

Following a path taken by her namesake, Dr John Rae, Barbara Rae has now made several journeys to the Arctic Ocean. Her practice involves taking photographs, making sketches and small paintings in her cabin, and completing larger works in her Edinburgh studio upon her return. The specific location of this piece, Baffin Island, is the largest island in Arctic Canada, known for its dramatic scenery, wildlife and Inuit culture.

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Produced in Aberdeen at Peacock studios, this new etching relates to an ongoing series of work made during and following Rae’s travels by ship through the Arctic waters. Following in her namesake, explorer Dr. John Rae (who she is not related to, but very much inspired by), Rae has now made several journeys taking photographs, making sketches and small paintings in her cabin, and completing larger works afterwards in her Edinburgh studio. Commenting on the palette used in these works Rae has said; ‘there is so much unexpected colour in glaciers, icebergs and icecaps. Evening skies were a painter’s heaven: strips of pink, orange and yellow set against indigo seas’.  Spectacular Baffin Island, the largest island in Canada, is known for its dramatic scenery, wildlife and Inuit culture.