INVOLVEMENT
MENSUN BOUND
~ENDURANCE22~
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, UK in 2025, Mensun Bound, distinguished British maritime archaeologist, was delighted to receive my very own “Endurance” handmade artwork, purchased as a gift from polar historian/author Stephen Scott-Fawcett and the Sir Ernest H. Shackleton Appreciation Society Group, in recognition of Mensun's invaluable support and incredible achievement in locating 'Endurance' on 5th March 2022 below the north Weddell Sea ice.
In 2012, Mensun turned his attention to one of the most legendary and elusive shipwrecks in polar exploration history: Endurance, the vessel of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917.
Lost beneath the ice-choked waters of the Weddell Sea after becoming trapped and ultimately crushed by pack ice, Endurance sank in 1915 and came to rest more than 3,008 meters below the surface. For over a century, it was considered the “world’s most unreachable shipwreck,” locked somewhere beneath one of the most inhospitable and remote marine environments on Earth.
Undeterred by the extreme technical and environmental challenges, Bound led a decade-long effort that culminated in 2022 with a groundbreaking expedition aboard the South African polar research vessel S.A. Agulhas II. The expedition—led by Dr. John Shears, a seasoned polar geographer and expedition leader, with Mensun Bound serving as Director of Exploration—brought together an international team of scientists, engineers, and polar experts that combined historical insight with cutting-edge technology, including autonomous underwater vehicles capable of operating in the harsh Antarctic depths.
Against all odds, the team succeeded in locating Endurance—astonishingly well-preserved in the frigid darkness of the seabed.
The discovery was not just a triumph of marine archaeology but a poetic closing of one of the great chapters in exploration history. It was a crowning achievement—a bridge between the heroic age of Antarctic exploration and the modern era of deep-sea discovery.
It was a true honour to see my work presented to Mensun and the team.
Jo, Mensun, Libby, and Zak Bound.
Find out more about Endurance22 and Shackleton's 1914 Expedition in the 'Trans-Antarctic Expedition' section of my website, or for more details on the expedition and it's discovery, visit the expedition's official site at:
THE SCOTT EXPEDITION 2013-14
Between October 2013 and February 2014, Ben Saunders and Tarka L'Herpiniere made the first ever return journey to the South Pole from Ross Island on the same route attempted by Sir Ernest Shackleton on the Nimrod Expedition, and by Robert Falcon Scott on the Terra Nova Expedition. At 1,795 miles (2,888 km) the Scott Expedition is the longest human-powered polar journey in history. Saunders and L'Herpiniere set out from Ross Island on 26 October 2013, reached the South Pole on 26 December 2013 and finished their expedition at Ross Island again on 7 February 2014 (105 days).
Pushing the outer limits of physical and mental endurance the Scott Expedition is the longest polar man-haul in history and will be the next chapter in one of the greatest stories of polar exploration ever told.
To learn more about Ben and Tarka's journey, visit their official web site at www.scottexpedition.com
I followed Ben and Tarka via Twitter and their blog through the enitre journey, and was extremely proud of both of them when they crossed the finish line.
They had pushed the envelope of human physical and mental endurance, and emerged true champions.
Shortly after, I created a custom commemorative sign in which I donated to The Scott Expedition's leader Ben Saunders, which to this day is hanging in his office.
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions has been the world leader in polar adventures for over two decades and successfully operated many first-ever passenger voyages to Antarctica, and the Arctic including the Circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent and the first Weddell Sea voyage, the first Transpolar Bridge across the North Pole, and the first Northeast Passage.
For more information on Quark Expeditions, visit their web site at www.quarkexpeditions.com/en
I am proud to announce that since 2014, VASSdesign art work is being displayed and is available for purchase aboard Quark Expedition vessels on both Antarctic and Arctic voyages. It is a thrill knowing that some of my work has made it to the far reaches of both ends of the world!
Take a moment to read this wonderful article about me written by Quark Expeditions:
THE SIR ERNEST H. SHACKLETON APPRECIATION SOCIETY
In 2015, a design I created won 1st place, and became the new Sledge Flag for the Sir Ernest H. Shackleton Appreciation Society.
THE JAMES CAIRD SOCIETY
At the 21st Anniversary of the James Caird Society in London, England, the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton, grand daughter of Sir Ernest Shackleton, was presented with a donation and introductory letter from me, something I had always hoped to do. It was received with much appreciation and admiration from all members present. The donation was signed by Alexandra, and will be auctioned as a special item to raise money for polar charities. What an honour!
Much gratitude to Seb Coulthard, and Stephen Scott-Fawcett for making this happen!
In 2019, I was honoured when asked if some of my colourized photographs from that era could be published in an edition of The James Caird Society Journal, in the UK.
They can be found in the October 2019 #10 edition of the journal, courtesy of editor Stephen Scott-Fawcett.
To see more about my colourization work, visit the "Colouring History" section of this site.
TOM CREAN AIRPORT CAMPAIGN
Pete talks about his support in the campaign to have Kerry Airport renamed Tom Crean Airport in his honour.