One afternoon, we visited one of my partner’s mates, Roger Kyle, owner of the historic Abbotsford Boat Shed (circa 1884), located at Abbotsford Point on the Parramatta River, Sydney.

Although the boat shed has been painted by different artists over the years, they have all been of its exterior, familiar to anyone sailing past the shed, and anyone standing on the River Cat ferry wharf alongside.

As Roger and David talked boats, I was inspired by the all the wonderful paraphernalia of a busy working boat shed. Some might call it clutter, but Roger made us both very welcome in his cosy man-cave.

I heard that the fishing boat, ‘San Giuseppe Star’ sunk on its mooring, and that Roger’s little dog had passed away, both shortly after this moment in time was captured in this watercolour.