In 1987 the French oil company Total Oil Marine hosted two short artists residency posts from its Aberdeen-based headquarters for one of their production & drilling rigs (North Alwyn A) situated in the North Sea near the Arctic Circle. This painting was one of the works made following this residency. Owing to the political and emotional reaction to the Piper Alpha oil disaster shortly following this residency project, this painting was never exhibited beyond the WASPS studio Gallery. The residency lasted for one week only but produced three print editions based on the artists north sea oil platform drawings in collaboration with Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland.