'When we were wandering about Damaraland, Namibia in 1989, Clarissa and I would always argue over exactly where we would camp when it came time to stop for the night. Maybe it was just the time of day when we were both getting tired but I do not remember us ever choosing the same spot! This painting uses scenery from one of those campsites. I can't remember whether it was my choice or Clarissa's but we made camp on the rocky shelf next to the soft sand the Barab River. In the middle of the night an elephant walked right up the riverbed to where we were camped. I knew a way to move the elephant off before it blundered into our encampment. A small rock thrown so it rolled along the ground in-between the elephant's legs really does the trick. When you do that elephants think that some small animal is underfoot and they turn tail and run off. But to use this technique you need to have a pebble to throw and in Botswana it was all sand and no rocks at all. In Namibia well worn rocks and pebbles are more common than sand! The next morning we awoke to the fluttering of wings. I peeked outside and saw the next bird painting I intended to do. Pebble-grouse!'

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