Bridge to Beechey

19″ × 48”, oil on linen (2018) Northwest Passage, Nunavut, Canada

From the INTO THE ARCTIC Project

It was early morning as I scrambled up the scree slopes of Devon Island. The loose footing was tricky, with rocks kicking out from my under my feet at times and causing me to lose my balance.

When I turned around at last, I was overtaken by this sublime view of Beechey Island. Connected by the thread of an ephemeral isthmus and surrounded by the sparkling waters of the Northwest Passage, I knew my climbing was done. It was time to pull out my sketchbook.