Ever since listening to the poem “Pike” by Ted Hughes, I’ve been caught up by the metaphorical idea of a ‘Pike’, despite never actually seeing one in the real world.

A few years ago, I made a watercolour of frogs in a pond. Everyone liked it… and of course, it was the most expensive, popular watercolour and sold quickly. We’re all sad it’s gone.

I’ve been trying to make paintings in the same watery ‘spirit’, but it’s a spontaneous style, and difficult to create.

On the weekend, while walking along a giant lily pond near Stackpole in Wales, Alistair spotted a young pike drifting about among floating leaves. We sat there watching as small innocent fish drifted by. The pike minutely shifted, turning its body, then flashed. Unsuccessful, this time, but was the highlight of my day!