Barbara Rae: The Northwest Passage

In 2015 Barbara Rae travelled to Greenland on the trail of her namesake and fellow Scot, the surgeon and explorer Dr John Rae (1813-1893). Captivated by the ‘wild sort of life’, he travelled to the Arctic in 1846, learning local languages and survival techniques. His enlightened co-operation and collaboration with the Inuit – almost unheard of at the time – allowed him to discover the fate of Sir John Franklin’s lost 1845 expedition, and to confirm the existence of the Northwest Passage, the maritime link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

This book is the artistic result of Barbara Rae’s extraordinary journey. Through the artist’s deft handling of colour and line the frozen landscape of the Arctic jumps into life from the page. This special publication takes the reader on a journey of discovery from Scotland to the Arctic, and back again.

Her vivid images are combined with insightful texts from authors including the Inuit leader and advocate Tagak Curley, the architect Ian Ritchie and the celebrated playwright Duncan Macmillan, as well as contributions from the artist herself.