31 Fetch

Fetch introduces a new subject into my work rather than a turning point in direction. On the surface, it presents a simple scene: a dog sitting patiently on the pavement, looking up at a framed image of a tennis ball suspended against a blue sky, with a single cloud drifting beneath it. As with many paintings in this series, the subject appears straightforward, yet the stillness of the moment invites a longer pause.

The dog is sitting, not in motion, not mid-game, but waiting. The lead rests loosely on the ground, suggesting restraint without tension. There is no urgency here, only expectation. The tennis ball, an object normally defined by movement, is fixed in place. Framed and elevated, it becomes something to look at rather than chase. The familiar command of “fetch” is implied, but the action is withheld, replaced by contemplation.

Colour is central to the painting’s quiet pull. The rich blue of the sky creates a sense of openness and calm, setting the tennis ball apart from the more structured environment below. The green of the ball echoes the surrounding foliage, linking instinctive desire with the natural world. Its smooth surface and soft glow give it a presence beyond its everyday function. This is no longer just a toy; it becomes a symbol of attention and longing.

The setting reinforces this idea of looking. The tiled wall, the gallery window and the printed opening hours place the scene firmly in the everyday. This is a street you could walk past, a window you might glance at without stopping. Yet the dog’s unwavering focus slows the moment. By sharing its viewpoint, the viewer is drawn into a similar state of pause, encouraged to look longer than they might otherwise.

The photograph taken during the making of Fetch adds an important layer to the work. It shows me painting the dog while our new puppy, Alice, sits below, watching intently. Alice joined our home in October 2013, and her arrival introduced a new subject into my paintings. Like many dogs, she was immediately drawn to tennis balls. Their colour, bounce and promise of play became a constant presence in our daily life.

This painting marks the beginning of a series centred on Alice and her fascination with the tennis ball. While the dog in Fetch is not a literal portrait of her, the painting conveys her attention and patience. It reflects the quiet moments between games, when anticipation replaces action. In this way, Fetch is less about the act of play and more about the space before it — the looking, the waiting and the shared understanding between human and dog that something is about to happen, even if it never quite does.

Oil on fine portrait linen: 125 x 95 cm 49.21 x 37.4 in (Sold)