12 Travelling companions

Travelling Companions marks a gentle but meaningful shift within the 1 in 100 series. It is the first time dogs appear in this body of work. Their presence introduces a new emotional layer, one grounded in loyalty, patience, and quiet connection. A black Scottie and a white Westie wait at an old train station, poised between departure and arrival. In this still moment, the painting speaks about companionship in its simplest and most enduring form.

The deliberate choice of black-and-white fur is central to the composition. Set against the carefully considered retro palette of greens, blues, muted yellows, and warm reds, the dogs stand out with striking clarity. Their contrasting coats provide a visual counterpoint to the structured background. The black Scottie absorbs light and anchors the lower half of the painting, while the white Westie reflects it, drawing the eye gently beneath the bench. Colour has always been a key force in this series, and here it emphasises character and presence. The dogs are not background details. They are the emotional heart of the scene.

Scotties and Westies are breeds full of personality. Compact, confident, and unmistakably expressive, they carry an air of quiet determination. In this painting, each dog suggests a different temperament. The Scottie stands alert and forward-facing, as if listening for the distant rumble of an approaching train. The Westie sits calmly in partial shadow, content to wait without urgency. The thin leads connecting them to the unseen owner hint at responsibility and care, but also at stillness. They are ready for movement, yet grounded in place. This balance between anticipation and restraint mirrors the human experience of waiting.

The setting reinforces the mood. An old train station, rendered with clean lines and solid geometry, evokes the optimism and order of the 1950s. The stacked suitcases suggest travel, memory, and the promise of a new place. Their structured forms echo the architecture around them, creating a sense of stability. Trains traditionally symbolise progress and transition, yet none are visible here. Instead, the platform holds a suspended pause in time. The dogs do not question the delay. They simply trust that movement will come.

Retro colours soften the composition and lend it a nostalgic tone. The palette suggests a remembered era rather than a specific location. It feels familiar without being defined. Light falls cleanly across the walls and bench, casting shadows that enhance the scene’s geometry. The stillness is deliberate. Nothing is hurried.

By introducing dogs into the 1 in 100 series, Travelling Companions expands its emotional vocabulary. These small figures represent constancy in a world defined by change. Journeys are measured not only by distance travelled, but by the companions beside us. In their patient vigilance, the Scottie and Westie remind us that waiting can be an act of quiet faith. They do not ask where they are going. They only know they are going together.

Oil on fine portrait linen: 95 x 120 cm; 37.4 x 47.2 in (Sold)