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Award winning artist Carla Benzie today announced the unveiling of her latest artwork, a portrait in collaboration with award winning cinematographer Doug Allan. The portrait called “Cold as Ice” is an ode to Doug Allan life’s work while photographing and filming wildlife for the BBC for over 40 years. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the effect’s climate change is having on the Polar Ice Regions with 80% of profits from the sale of this portrait going to support the World Land Trust and Marine Conservation Society.

Carla Benzie and Doug Allan are both striving to inspire with this portrait, using Mr. Allan’s years of experience capturing wildlife in their natural environments and Ms. Benzie’s use of her artistic mediums of pencil and watercolour at a scale of over two meters, this epic portrait transports you into the heart of the frigid Polar Ice Regions.

“Like many of us, I grew up watching Sir David Attenborough’s natural history series. His passion for the environment sparked my passion, and I have made it my mission to incorporate this into my life and art. I especially wanted to feature Sir David in this latest work.

“While I was searching for the perfect portrait of Sir David, I found the book Freeze Frame, written and illustrated by Doug Allan. I mailed him, we zoomed, and as we talked, it was clear there was huge potential for collaboration.

“Through the 700+ hours of brushwork that I spent in front of the canvas, I realised this wasn’t just a labour of love but the realisation of a dream for me. I want it to play a part in raising awareness within a wide audience of the issues around climate change and the importance of environmental conservation.” Ms. Benzie Said.

Doug Allan is one of the world’s best known and respected cameramen, whose love affair with ice has lasted over forty years. He spent four winters as a research diver, scientist, base commander, and photographer for the British Antarctic Survey, before changing direction to full time filming in 1984. He specialises in natural history, expeditions, and science documentaries in the wildest and most remote places on our planet, particularly the polar zones. Over his career, he is filmed for series like The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Operation Iceberg and Forces of Nature, as well as making programmes about coral reef conservation and overfishing. He talks with the passion of deep experience about issues of conservation and climate change to audiences from primary schools to investment fund managers.

“When Carla first approached me in August last year. I was taken right away with her idea of one big picture carrying one big message. But this was never going to be a single frozen moment in polar time, or a work created purely from her imagination. Carla hoped she could create an artwork where the whole would be more impactful than the sum of the parts because this painting would have its roots in reality.

“She asked me if I would contribute with my own photographs, taken over the years on my many polar assignments. So, we would also have their unique stories within the message of her painting.  I am proud to be part of “Cold as Ice”. Mr Allan said.

We would like to invite you to an exclusive unveiling event at Bib and Brace Collective on Saturday the 17th of July 2021, Commencing 5pm.

For more information and to view the most up to date print releases, please visit https://www.carlabenzie.com.au/

Carla Benzie is an award-winning artist; she was a finalist in the 2020 Brisbane Portrait Prize with “A Man and His Shed” and 2020 Salon Des Refuse’ with “Toby Price”. Her passion for giving back is at the heart of all of her artworks.  She has worked with many not-for-profit organisations, including Sea Shepherd and Farm Animal Rescue, to help raise funds and awareness for environmental conservation and climate change. Carla has made it her mission to incorporate ecofriendly and sustainable practices into her day-to-day life and art.

Doug Allan is an award-winning cinematographer and wildlife photographer; his awards include eight Emmy’s and five BAFTA’s. He has twice won the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year and has three Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his camerawork, as well as two Polar Medals and the RSGS Mungo Park Medal. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and of the Royal Photographic Society, and one of the Marine Conservation Society’s Ocean Ambassadors.