Mr Abid-Ali, Clifton Beach, Karachi July 1993

Painted on location outside Mr Abid-Ali’s roadside cafe on Clifton Beach, Karachi. At the time I was working as a consultant shipyard designer and this was my day off so I caught a bus from the Marriott Hotel down to the nearest beach. After making a few drawings on the beach it was time for some refreshment so I wandered into Mr Ali’s cafe on the promenade and immediately struck up a conversation with him. He wanted me to paint his portrait but I told him I would need to keep the painting but he insisted I do it. I gave him a pencil portrait instead and he gave me a Pepsi! Then I said goodbye and drew some camels on the beach. Looking back , me in my white suit and tie the only white guy on the beach, I caught a calmer moment in history before things took a turn for the worst after 9/11.