A bend in the winter river, 50" x 40", January 2005, Acrylic on canvas, £1,000

On a winter hillwalk with some university friends, I took the photograph on which this image is based. Frigid wind, rain, slush that froze through to our boots but I got something to remember the companionship and the reminder that at the end of every long walk is a welcoming, warm pub and some really good whisky. I utilized the cheap colour quality of the photograph which came out of the disposable camera (and the fact that I 'lost' the camera and didn't get the pictures developed for three years) to summon the conflict of feelings: the warm evening sun setting on a bitter cold day.