Darren Rees is an accomplished wildlife painter, a long-time member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and fan of the ice and snow. He had earlier visited the High Arctic to paint the aniamls and environment.
In 2015, he became Artist in Residence for the Scott Polar Reserch Institute aboard the Royal Navy's HMS Protector on patrol in the Far South. During a month-long voyage from the Falklands through Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, he observed many species of bird and mammal at close quarters. Five species of penguin were painted during the trip, along with various albatross and petrels. Darren drew and painted Elephant Seals, Fur Seals, Minke and Humpback Whales, plus some majestic ice landscapes.
Ice Bound forms an illustrated record of his voyage through the icy waters of the Far South, complete with the artist's diary entries and working sketchbooks.