A new exhibition at the Scott Polar Institute (SPRI) will look back at the Antarctic paintings of one of Britain's most highly regarded wildlife artists, Keith Shackleton.

‘Keith Shackleton: a polar retrospective,' which runs from 1 May to 30 June, brings together over 25 major works by the eminent painter, illustrating a fascinating range of Arctic and Antarctic wildlife, landscapes and seascapes.

These include the many types of seabird Shackleton encountered when he worked as a boatman in the polar regions, including King and Adélie penguins, petrels, bald eagles and albatrosses. The exhibition also includes the last painting of his long career, ‘High Arctic – Brents and Fulmars,' completed in 1991.

Keith Shackleton was born in England in 1923 and began his travels early when his family moved to Australia. When they returned after five years, he continued his education at Oundle School, near Peterborough.

After working in aviation for many years, he became a full-time painter and joined the Johnny Morris BBC television series Animal Magic. At this time he illustrated Birds of the Atlantic Ocean, A Sailor's Guide to Ocean Birds, Wild Animals In Britain and wrote and illustrated innumerable articles for wildlife and yachting magazines.

Since then he has worked extensively as a naturalist and boatman, mainly in the Antarctic but also in the Arctic, Amazon and far-scattered islands of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. He is principally a marine painter, perhaps best known for his exciting interpretations of the sea and sea-birds.

The exhibition is sponsored by adventure tour organisers Peregrine Adventures. The majority of the works are on loan from members of The Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute.

“For anyone interested in the wildlife and landscape of the polar regions, Keith Shackleton's paintings make compelling viewing. We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer this major retrospective exhibition to the public,” said Julian Dowdeswell, Director of the SPRI.

The exhibition is open from 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, Tuesday to Friday and from 12pm-4pm on Saturdays. Entrance is free.

The Scott Polar Research Institute is part of the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1920 as the national memorial to Captain Scott and the Polar party. The Institute has been an international centre for polar explorers, scholars and enthusiasts ever since. From rigorous scientific enquiry into the nature of climate change to protecting our historic polar heritage, the Scott Polar Research Institute has remained at the vanguard of polar work for 85 years.

For more information about the Scott Polar Research Institute and Friends of the SPRI, click on the link above right.

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