Low tide in Seahouses harbour saw this fishing boat with a group of men working under the stern. They were there for most of the workable part of the tide which allowed me time to make reference sketches and photos. The working personnel changed from time to time, but what was most striking was their technicolour wellies! In the gloom under the hull they glowed vividly, definitely a fisherman’s fashion statement and something which I struggled to represent in this painting. This is one of three paintings which I have produced based on the different stages of the mending process. At one point one of the seamen struck the propellor with a lump hammer and the resulting noise was ear splitting. It stopped every one around the harbour in their tracks and if Big Ben ever needs replacing they could do well to check out brass propellors.