Four artists including Sydney Higgs celebrated VE Day (Victory over Europe) at Pumpkin Cottage on 9th May 1945, New Zealand’s official celebration marking the end of the Second World War. Higgs may have painted this watercolour during that visit although the bleached grass suggests a dry summer’s day in Upper Hutt, while the clouds convincingly scud overhead in the expansive sky which takes up more than half the picture. As soldiers returned home, married and began to raise families, there was a shortage of accommodation. In August 1947 St Patrick’s College revoked Wellington Sketch & Studio Club’s exclusive lease of the cottage in order to house its staff. It appears this was the last time the cottage was available for the use of artists.