Arriving at work, I have become accustomed to a mute but puppy like greeting , Thomas waggling enthusiastically, perpendicular to my face and apparently asking for breakfast as soon as is humanly possible please. In fact in this warm weather he is particularly active and hungry and can pointedly ask me for food from across the room. He knows when I’m looking at him (which is quite a lot).
About seven months ago, a friend asked me if I’d ‘fish sit’ while she went off travelling. It was more practical for me to have a tank at the gallery rather than at home so he was duly delivered, tank and all to my work space. I had no idea he was so big and so beautiful. I fell in love.
His metallic sheen and flowing fins beguiled me. After setting up his tank and carefully settling him into his new home I watched him for a long time. I began to talk to him when he came up close to my face at the glass. He soon learned to go to the corner of the tank where I feed him, whenever I came into my studio.
Then I began to do a little research. I discovered that he is in fact a he ( more slender body shape and ‘male behaviour’) and that he is a comet goldfish. I now have it on some authority, that he could potentially live up to 80 years and grow to weigh 70lbs! Bizarrely a keeper from the London aquarium was in my gallery a few weeks ago and we fell to talking about Thomas, of course. I was keen to get him some company but was advised that he may just be a bit irritated with a new housemate (relatable) and that as long as he gets plenty of interaction and food (he gets plenty of both) he would happily do without a fishy friend. Goldfish , I was reminded are basically carp.
Over the ensuing months I fantasised about adopting him and making his home with me a permanent one. When my friend eventually asked me if I’d like to keep Thomas I was unfeasibly delighted.
Thomas, my muse, has inspired me to paint him and lately dabble in some small plasticine and clay sculptures. 
Every day Thomas greets me, inspires love in my heart and requires me to care for a fellow creature and it is a joy to do so. Just as it is for any pet. It is quite a lot of work to keep him in tip top condition, regular water changes, filter maintenance, good quality food and enrichment, a larger tank (my husband lovingly reinforced my counter top to bear the extra weight of a 130 litre tank!) and fresh aquatic plants for him to rip to shreds.
But…he is such a presence, an elemental creature with a character who sees out into the world and on a daily basis meets my customers eye to eye in a way that surprises and engages many. People leave with a very different perception of the word, goldfish.
Sometimes customers notice my artwork too.