The painting shows the industrial side of Thurso river. The eye is led out past the harbour wall to the sea. In the distance, the Man of Hoy is visible on Orkney. The setting implies a picturesque scene, an unspoilt view of untouched land and sea from the most northerly town in mainland Scotland. However, what the painting shows is the current, the reality of a northern coastal town, the everyday life in a town where tourism has not yet altered the veneer of the town.  The painting shows the end of a riverside full of industry. The ground, a mixture of concrete, flagstone and tarmac is cracked beyond repair; the light catches on the oily water that gathers in the gaps. The building to the right has a shop front and industrial shed door, the outdoor storage fenced off with slithers of blue plastic tangled in the wire and blowing in the sea breeze. The warning sign is prominent, and the stacks of industrial supplies lie in front of the lichen-covered harbour wall. This evidence of the human impact on this coastline is the subject here, but these details also create a narrative of life in a coastal town in which industries such as fishing, agriculture, engineering are still prominent over tourism. The effects of everyday life and industry on the landscape and seascape are evident.