The first thing that I noticed when I left Newcastle back in the 70’s, was that I really missed the beaches and baths. When I returned, I felt so at ease painting Merewether beach and more recently, Merewether baths and the bathers that frequent it. I became proud of the fact that it was difficult to get a car park at 5.30 am, and more impressed by the people I met and observed in their daily ritual of dipping their body. They come in all sorts of weather. Some come before work and some after, but the stream is steady all day and into the dark. The atmosphere in summer is more upbeat, and the mood in a stinking heatwave can be party like. One thing for sure is, that it is uniquely Newcastle, and wonderful. I have tried to capture these moments in "On the benches".