During the 1970s and early 1980s, friends of Holland owned one of the houses on the harbour wall at Polperro in Cornwall. Holland visited the house on a number of occasions out of season, enjoying the atmosphere in the local pubs with the fishermen and the opportunities for sketching. In particular he enjoyed the challenges for drawing boats in the narrow tidal harbour and the way the village climbed up the steep valley.
This picture shows a boat in the harbour at high tide, and with one of Holland's favourite oppressive skies. This may have been based on sketches done at New Year 1978/79, when Holland was trapped in the village for several days by heavy snowfall. There are other pictures in private collections showing the harbour and village under thick snow - a rarity at sea level in Cornwall.
Polperro Harbour, oil on board, signed, undated, framed, available for purchase - price on application.