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Notes

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The artist said about this piece in 2007: "I can still recall seeing, during a beach exploration on the Northumberland coast, a spectacular swirling swathe of black on the beach left by the receding tides. Should we take some home? Coal. I was to learn later that coal picking was a time-honoured activity supplementing the family income in times of need. It was also developed into legitimate business ventures with horse and cart. My mother recalled that the desperate scouring of the beaches during the general strike frequently resulted in ill-tempered friction between families. My uncles never complained, evading serious comment on working conditions, particularly under the sea with humorous anecdotes. They used to say at Blackhall Colliery that they worked so far out under the sea that they only took two slices of bread for their bait to go with the fish.