Maura Chamberlain is a botanical illustrator who has a particular interest in endemic species - plants that are native to a specific location.
Maura travelled to World Heritage Listed Macquarie Island in mid-2024 on RSV Nuyina and spent several days hiking to remote locations to collect samples of eight plant species, including species which are found nowhere else in the world. Using the samples, Maura worked on a series of highly detailed drawings onboard the ship and then back in her studio in Hobart.
Maura's finished drawings will be exhibited in Hobart in May 2026 with a book on the recovery of Macquarie Island’s flora following the eradication of rodents and rabbits in 2014. Proceeds from book sales will go towards conservation efforts on the island.
The experience of the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship has been profound on a personal level. Not only have I encountered the beautiful and resilient flora of the Southern Oceans but I have met the most dedicated people who have made it their business to restore a remote island far away from civilization and to keep this haven of flora and fauna protected and flourishing.
- Maura Chamberlain