James Perry was only14 years old when, with two pack horses, he began the first mail delivery service from Nebo to the gold mining town of Mount Britton in 1881. The beginning of that year saw floods and washouts along the creek banks, and in this painting James Perry and his horses are about to cross what would normally be a dry creek bed, but the water is flowing, and the track which crosses it has rather deep wheel ruts worn down from the recent traffic to and from the gold diggings.

In this painting Dustin at 14 years of age is filling in for James Perry, and riding Humbug, (a horse I bred) and leading Rosie across a creek on his grandfather's property. They criss-crossed the creek several times as I photographed them. I loved the vibrant warmth of the light shining on the shallow water and reflecting up onto the horses, and the direct light falling on Humbug’s head and mane.

This is one of twelve paintings called the MOUNT BRITTON COLLECTION that my husband Ron Marshall and I painted, of the pioneer gold town of Mount Britton near Nebo 100km west of Mackay.

The original painting is beautifully framed to match the painting, with a deeply scooped very traditional outer wooden frame of a Mid/dark-grey, slightly mottled grey-green colour, with a soft golden inner edge against a broad slip or inner frame that is a warm grey-green colour with a warm blush to the gold edge around the painting. It enhances the moodiness of the painting and makes those warm colors of earth and fire and the prospectors with their enamel mugs stand out in comparison. The frame has 2 D-rings at the back with double length of plastic-coated picture hanging wire. Framed Size is 99cm(H) x 72cm(W) x 4.5cm (D)