Xmas 1961 for John and Iona, this is one of a series of animals he did at this time (purple cow, yellow horses) which he refers to as children’s pictures. They eventually were incorporated in a design for wallpaper.
It could be one of his re-datings for his Duncan Gallery show. The photos would suggest the late 1950’s, but he also mentions masks in 1962 although he does not say when he painted them.
Sold to Scalamandre by Wilton Owen in November of 1964, Hugh would have designed it after 1962 when he made small paintings of the animals included in the design.
He mentions that he has finished the painting in a letter to Daphne dated Jan 4, 1965. He was very likely referring to the gouache version as he said he immediately set out to enlarge it.