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When University ofÌý Plymouth student Amelia Hunton packed her case ready to set off to paint in the Arctic as well as the paintbrushes and watercolours she will need she made sure she took a bottle of gin.

That's not to sustain her when the strain of her 150-mile trek gets too much but instead she will need the alcohol to make sure her paints don't freeze.

Amelia, 20, will be accompanying adventurer David Hempleman-Adams and a group of about 20 people as they trek across Baffin Island, which lies at the centre of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures can fall as low asÌý -40C.

She is aiming to depict the landscape, where snow cover has already decreased and the sea ice is receding and thinning, in watercolours.

Amelia Hunton needs to take gin to mix with paint

She will attempt try to produce some watercolours while she is there – using the gin to paint with instead of water as it doesn't freeze and special waterproof paper which won't be affected if snow melts on it.

She applied directly to the adventurer to be part of the group which will be covering roughly 150 miles on foot to highlight the effects of climate change on the area.

To prepare for the trip, Amelia has been working out at the gym every day to build up her muscles.

She has also been going for 10-mile walks every weekend since December carrying a 40kg rucksack to prepare her for pulling a heavy sled behind her.

Amelia will also use the trip as an opportunity to study the art of the Inuit people who live on Baffin Island, an experience which she use for a module as part of her History of Art course next year.

Speaking before she left for the trip on Tuesday 24 March 2009 Amelia said she thought it would be "a life-changing experience".

"It will be amazing. I'm feeling a little apprehensive but very excited.

"I'm already planning to go back to the Arctic and stay in a village there so that I can learn more about the Inuit people."

Speaking of what she faces on the trip Amelia said thin ice was just one of the risks the trip poses.

"Twenty years ago, the ice on Baffin Island was much thicker but now parts of it are not safe and falling through a crevasse is one of the three main dangers we will face," said Amelia, "as well as polar bears and frostbite."