Sophia Chipperfield was born in 1867 and married James Chittock in 1896; she was his second wife and 27 years younger than her husband. Their show featured the ‘Chittocks’ troupe of performing dogs and monkeys, considered the best travelling show in England. She was an able equestrian and juggler and I have used her introduction to one of the monkeys as the base for this painting. I wanted to depict the ‘encounter’ and to display the vibrant fairground/showfolk colours with that well used, weathered look you see on circus tents etc.