2000 miles around the UK

A ship’s biscuit and a 19th-century English war ship. On a mission for Exploration Quarterly (Victualling article).

We have spent the last three weeks traversing the width and length of the UK—from London to Dorset to the Sunderland Coast to Glasgow to the Orkney Islands to Hastings and back—helping to organize and teach at events for the Royal Geographical Society’s Explore Week (recap here), and to work on gathering material for future expeditions and stories for the next issue of Exploration Quarterly.

As we go, we have also been sourcing some vintage field arts tools, and will be offering a suite of one-of-a-kind field arts products (mini paint kits, bookbinding kits, field pigment kits, and more). Going on sale in early December.

Here is a selection of images, with plenty more to come in the magazine. Subscribe now to receive Vol. 1 No. 3 in the mail (January) and access to all content online (Nos. 1–2):

Researching Dr. David Livingstone’s papers at the Royal Geographical Society archives, London.

The dramatic statue depicting Livingstone and Mebalwe as the lion attacked; Mebalwe succeeded in distracting the lion long enough for them to escape, Livingstone suffering a broken arm.

Shute’s Lane Holloway, Dorset.

St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland.

At the famed Cornelissen & Son, London, pigment and art suppliers for centuries.

Oak galls and ink made from them using medieval recipes at Cornelissen & Son, London. (Yes, I bought the ink!)

Visiting Livinstone’s grave marker and moving inscription at Westminster Abbey, London.

Mapping and sketching in Hell Lane Holloway, Dorset.

Well in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland, where Hudson’s Bay Company ships took on water before departing for North America.

Detail of the effigy of Arctic explorer Dr. John Rae, St. Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland.

A selection of paint palettes at Cornelissen & Son, London; working on an article for Exploration Quarterly on field arts paint tins.

A micro paint palette of enameled tin at Cornelissen & Son, London; working on an article for Exploration Quarterly on field arts paint tins.