Antarctic artist 2012/13: Emma Stibbon

Emma Stibbon RA joined HMS Protector in the Antarctic as the Friends' Artist in Residence.

Exhibition: Ice Limit 11 June - 5 September 2015

Emma Stibbon RA studied Fine Art BA Hons at Goldsmiths, London and Research Fine Art MA at the University of the West of England, Bristol, she is Senior Lecturer Fine Art Printmaking at the University of Brighton. Recent solo exhibitions include the Stadtmuseum, Berlin, upstairs berlin, Rabley Drawing Centre and R O O M, London. Other projects include the Stiftung Federkiel residency at the Spinnerei, Leipzig, the4th International Gyumri Biennale, Armenia and a recent Derek Hill scholarship residency at the British School at Rome. Her work is held in private and public collections including the Stadtmuseum, Berlin, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Emma writes, 'I am privileged to have been chosen as the Antarctica Artist Placement for 2013 by the Friends of SPRI and HMS Protector, sponsored by Bonhams. I have long been fascinated by Antarctica; it is a remarkable landscape unlike anywhere else on the planet. As an artist working from remote landscape it is extremely difficult to gain five weeks access to such a place. During my placement I plan to gather inspiration through drawing from observation, and photography, which I will develop back in my studio into large-scale drawings and prints. I aim to suggest a sense of the strength, resilience and yet ultimate fragility of this last wilderness. Recording has always been an important part of Polar Science; most pre-photography expeditions would have included an artist. I am interested in what role the artist can play on a contemporary voyage. In addition to my field trip I am looking forward to researching the collections at SPRI and presenting my work in an exhibition there in 2015.'

Read more about Emma's polar drawings in Nancy Campbell's article for The Island Review. An exhibition at SPRI took place in June 2015.