The hardship of the 1980s continued into the 1990s through Gunners personal life, the family had already been separated when Jette died of cancer in 93. He sold the house and moved back to Copenhagen. He found himself reflecting on the time which had passed, asking himself what had been good about Lolland? The only answer he could come up with was his favourite tree, an ancient oak, which he started drawing and painting repeatedly.
For practical reasons, due to his new living conditions in smaller spaces, he started working with acrylics instead of oils. This necessary change gave way for a more immediate style, freeing up techniques he had previously experimented with, merging materials which now started blending together more harmoniously. Subject wise he honed in on his fascination with nature, trees in particular. It brought back some calm and confidence in his style. And ended in two of his most ambitious paintings; of the ancient oak – one of them spanning 1.8 x 3 meters.
Concern about nature and the environment became a major driving force in his work.
During previous years Gunner had experimented with wood carvings in the summer months. Most of these were left unfinished, but in the late 1990s he returned to some figures. While also starting several new ones, of animals, which were finalised.