Saint, Oil on linen on board, 12 x 16cm 2024.

Snowball, oil on linen on board, 20 x 25.5cm, 2025.

Hercules, Oil on linen on Board, 20 x25 cm, 2025.

Samson, Oil on linen on board, 12 x16 cm, 2024.

Sandy, Oil on linen on board, 20 x 25.5, 2025.

Mack, Oil on linen on board, 15 x 15 cm, 2025.

Alti, Oil on linen on Board, 10 x 12.5cm, 2025.

Caruso, oil on linen on board, 20 x 25cm, 2025.

Stumps, oil on linen on board, 12 x 16cm , 2025.

Sailor, oil paint on linen on board, 20 x 25.5cm,2025.

Rugby, Oil on Board, 10 x 12.5 cm, 2025.

In this series of oil paintings, I focus on the dogs that accompanied Ernest Shackleton on his ill-fated expedition to Antarctica. These dogs—primarily Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and mixed-breed sled dogs—were essential to the journey's survival. However, when the mission faced insurmountable odds, the dogs were ultimately sacrificed to ensure the men’s survival. This decision, though practical, was laden with emotional complexity, as the men had formed strong bonds with the dogs, relying on them for both their physical survival and emotional support in the harshest of conditions. Through my work, I aim to explore themes of sacrifice, memory, and the complexities of human history. I have chosen a monochromatic palette to evoke the fading, ephemeral nature of memory, with blurred edges to symbolize our collective desire to forget uncomfortable truths. The muted tones create a sense of time passing, and the distortion reflects how history becomes obscured or altered over time. To bring the story into the present, I use colour over the top of the monochrome foundation. The colours build the "architecture" of the painting, representing both the enduring presence of the past and the continuity of life. The vibrancy of the colour signifies that life goes on, even after tragedy and loss. It is a reminder that, while the painful parts of history may fade or be overlooked, life continues to move forward, carrying both the weight of the past and the hope of the future. My work also delves into the complexities of our relationship to the animals that sustain us—both emotionally and nutritionally. Throughout history, animals have served not only as companions but also as essential sources of protein and survival, often blurring the lines between friendship, dependence, and exploitation. The dogs of Shackleton’s expedition symbolize this delicate tension between life and death, companionship and necessity. Their sacrifice was not just a physical one, but a reflection of the harsh choices made in the name of survival, reminding us of the primal ways in which humans have historically relied on animals for sustenance, even when they also represent deep emotional bonds. How do we reconcile the profound emotional connections we form with animals, even when those animals are part of the very system that sustains us?