I visited this hospital in 1994, the year before its closure (after 147 years of service). I was struck by the magnificence of the large Victorian-Gothic building, which was constructed between 1844 and 1848. It is now in a state of picturesque decay – which inspired my series of paintings of the same (both in oils and acrylics). This is my largest painting in the series.

The large, hand-made, close-weaved canvas, was painted using the traditional method of squaring up, and drawing out, with a tonal underpainting – followed by a series of glazes and some areas of impasto for the highlights.