The usual habitat of these polar bears is snow-where to be seen as they frolic in fields of beautiful purple flowers – with not a block of ice to be seen around them.

The arctic creatures are usually pictured in freezing white terrain but in rarely seen images, polar bears and their cubs were captured sniffing blossoms and lounging in the sunshine.

Gillian Overholser, 60, from Massachusetts, USA was given special permission to photograph the bears on a remote Inuit-owned island off the coast of Nunavut, Canada while on a photography tour.

The heartwarming shots show the mighty Arctic predators looking more like gentle giants - with one bear seen bending to sniff the bright purple flowers, and another shows an adorable cub cuddled up beside its mum.

Gillian, who spent five days on the isolated island said the experience was nothing short of a dream come true.

Gillian said: “Ever since I first saw a picture of a polar bear in fireweed, I dreamed of seeing it for myself.

“When I was finally there, surrounded by blue water, purple flowers and these magnificent white bears, it honestly felt like I was in a dream. The place was so remote, so peaceful, it was completely surreal.”

Usually pictured padding across frozen tundra or hunting on sheets of ice, the polar bears in Gillian’s photos look almost unrecognisable - basking in the warmth of early autumn, when temperatures can rise above freezing and the snow gives way to a sea of flowers.

Gillian added: “I never thought I’d have this opportunity. The contrast of the blue water, purple fireweed and the white bears was something I’ll never forget. It was like stepping into another world.”