I have painted this boat many times over the years. It is moored at Paddy’s Hole Redcar and although it changes it mooring position in the harbour I have never seen it move beyond it. Sometimes it looks a complete wreck, muddy, unloved and neglected, and on the next visit hours of sanding cleaning and new coats of paint have brought it back to the condition it is in the painting. It is a beautiful boat even as a wreck. I visit Paddy’s Hole regularly as it is an unadopted harbour full of boats which demonstrate the whole lifecycle of wooden vessels from new to derelict half sunken wrecks. Combine this with a background of a large blast furnace, massive dock cranes and heavy industry with the mercantile shipping on the River Tees it is an artist’s dream.