In 1987 the Aberdeen based French oil company Total Oil Marine hosted two artists residency posts from its Aberdeen headquarters for one of their production & drilling rigs (North Alwyn A) in the North Sea near the Arctic Circle. This major painting was made following this residency. Owing to the political and emotional response cause by the Piper Alpha oil disaster which only weeks after this residency project, this painting was never exhibited beyond the WASPS studio Gallery in 1989.The residency lasted for a very long seven days but produced three print editions based on the artists north sea oil platform drawings in collaboration with the printmaking department at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Scotland.