In 2005 I travelled to Svalbard, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Very quiet and desolate, with only the remains of the old whaling industry scattered about the shoreline and a few small modern settlements. Went camping, kayaking and on a day trip to look for fossils with a Russian guy who carried around a huge .45 magnum (for the bears!) and his sled dogs. Very beautiful place but will probably change as it opens up to tourism. The piece at the top is called 'Ymerbukta, Svalbard' and the one below 'Glacier, Svalbard', both painted in 2005.