Alaskan Brown Bears, Moms and Cubs

July 22, 2026David McEown

We’ve just returned from an unforgettable photo and sketching adventure with the majestic brown bears of Lake Clark, Alaska. Throughout our journey, we were treated to incredible wildlife encounters, witnessing a remarkable range of mother bears with their playful cubs emerging onto the tidal flats to dig for clams at low tide. During the day, we observed them peacefully grazing on lush sedges, giving us a rare glimpse into the rhythm of their lives and interactions.

While I sketch I take video to help me understand the wildlife behaviour, changing light and as a story telling part of my art with watercolours. (Video and artwork by David McEown)

Thanks to Daisy Gilardini (daisygilardini.com), for organizing this trip and bringing together such a nice group of creative photographers!

Brown Bear Mother and Cub, 11 × 14 inches, watercolour

Slope Mountain Study, 11 × 14 inches , watercolour

Galapagos Islands In Depth

July 17, 2026David McEown

We have just returned home after an inspiring three-week adventure in Ecuador, highlighted by an unforgettable photographic and sketching journey to the Galápagos Islands. This video captures some of the highlights and wildlife encounters we had with tortoise, waved albatross, Galapagos penguins and many more creatures from above and below the oceans surface. Thank you to Daisy Gilardini for organizing this intensive and well organized itinerary for our group, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the unique wildlife and landscapes. (Video by David McEown and Daisy Gilardini.)

“Galapagos Penguin,” 14 x 11 inches, watercolour.
Another highlight of our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was seeing the endemic Galapagos penguin. It is the only penguin that lives near and just north of the Equator and has adapted to the warm climate, although it relies on the cooling Humboldt current. It is listed as endangered, so conservation efforts are crucial for protecting these penguins.

“Galápagos Tortoise” – 11 x 14 inches, watercolour, painted on location in the Galápagos, May 2026 (sold).
Spending time painting and sketching these magnificent giant tortoises felt like stepping back in time. Capturing their slow, deliberate movements and the textures of their weathered shells was both a challenge and a joy.

“Waved Albatross,” 11 x 14 inches, watercolour.
One of the many highlights of our recent trip to the Galapagos Islands was visiting the breeding site of the Waved Albatross. The choreography of the mating ritual was stunning to photograph and sketch. These birds are listed as critically endangered, and most only breed in the protected area of Española Island.

“Bartolomé Island”, 11 x 14 inches watercolour. Painted from the lookout view of this uninhabited 1.2 square kilometres volcanic islet with great views of Pinnacle Rock catching the sunrise.

Antarctica and South Georgia Island in Watercolour

February 15, 2026David McEown

Videos merge into paintings during an expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. (Watercolours and video by David McEown, additional video by Daisy Gilardini)

We have just returned home after an incredible trip to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, which took place from December 2025 through January 2026 aboard the M/V Sylvia Earle. The voyage marked the 20th anniversary of my first painting expedition to Antarctica, and conditions were nearly perfect for every landing, with beautiful light inspiring watercolour painting, photography, and citizen science. I am now working on larger studio paintings and look forward to sharing updates soon. Many thanks to the crew and staff at Aurora Expeditions for taking us there!

Many watercolours are completed on location, whereas others are done on a moving ship with sometimes rapidly changing foreground in which case I sketch in 3 or 4 compositions on a large piece of paper and take colour notes to finish the series later, either from memory or with additional photo reference.

On landings, we all abide by strict IATO biosecurity protocols to avoid bringing in any foreign items, plant seeds, or viruses that may affect the wildlife. All my gear stays on my back, or I hang my pack on a tripod so that when returning to the ship, the boots and tripod pole are sanitized. I have an empty water bottle for waste water from mixing paint to bring back to the ship.

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.1, 7 × 15 inches , watercolour

From Port Charcot

From Petermann island, Antarctic Peninsula.

Painting on Christmas Day 2025

Bongrain Point

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.2

Lemaire Channel Sunset n.3

South of the Circle

Antarctic Calm

One highlight of this trip was having time with the iceberg named by scientists A23a. It was the largest iceberg in the world and has been on a journey for nearly 40 years since it was released from Antarctica. I have seen it in the distance in previous trips, but this year it is melting fast. The massive ice block creates its own weather patterns and microclimate. From the ship, I had time to put down some marks and pay homage to this piece of history and ancient ice that is rapidly released back into the ocean.

“Iceberg A23a”, 11 × 22 inches, watercolour

South Georgia Island

The King Penguin Colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia island is one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles. From a moraine viewpoint one can witness 100’s of thousands of adults with their woolly brown chicks, surrounded by peaks and glaciers. There is not paper large enough for such a scene , so I often hinge sheets of paper together to record the panorama. These studies on their own are finished paintings but all contain indispensable information for a larger studio work.

Sketching on Location at St. Andrews Bay

King Penguin Colony Detail

“King Penguin colony at St. Andrews Bay”, 11 × 42 inches triptych in watercolour.

The waterfall from Stromness

Art Workshops

On this trip, I was invited to provide art programming and enrichment presentations to complement the expedition team’s informative lectures and citizen science program. The ship was very comfortable and well-stabilized, which allowed for cosy drawing sessions in the lecture theatre/lounge and watercolour sessions in the Sylvia Earle Science Centre, which is equipped with sinks and workstations with a view. I was impressed by the level of participation and talent on board!

I look forward to sharing more workshops later this year during back-to-back Ross Sea expeditions with Aurora Expeditions . Dates listed on my Events page.