'In the year 2000 Martin Hemmington from the National Fox Welfare Society put me in touch with a wonderful couple who have been caring for injured and abandoned foxes since 1998. It was an absolute priviledge to be able to visit the couple and see at first hand the amazing work done in nurturing these foxes back to health. It was also a huge eye-opener in seeing the cruelty that some humans inflict on foxes, and to be told about gruesome casualties that resulted from fox hunting. 'I wanted to do something to help, and although I don't have the facilities at present to do the incredible work that the couple I visited do, I knew I could try in my own small way to use my art to help raise some money and hopefully awareness for the NFWS.

Inspiration came in April 2000 when the couple took in a 3-4 week old fox cub named 'Todd', believed to have been abandoned and suffering from lungworm. He also had some damage to his skull and stood out from the other fox cubs being cared for at the time. He looked lost and lonely, and to me not only epitomized the distress these animals must feel but in the many months it took to complete the painting, epitomized the work the carers do in restoring these foxes back to health; for if you could see him now, you would not believe he was the same fox I saw back in April 2000. He is no longer a shy, frightened cub but a boisterous, playful juvenile with a spring in his step. This remarkable turnaround, which can be seen time and time again in the NFWS newsletters, for me truly encapsulates the role of all those involved in the NFWS for whom I have great admiration.