For much of the eighteenth and nineteenth century Musselburgh and Inveresk were popular with retired professionals, many from the services or returning from overseas administrative posts. Conveniently located near Edinburgh, land on which to build was readily available. Incomers such as MacNiven would find much in common with the existing community.

This is a small watercolour and pencil sketch on paper. The subject is the strand and basin within the arms of a harbour. There is a sailing craft berthed on each side and fishing craft sailing from the entrance, watched by fishwives on the strand.

Colonel Thomas MacNiven, a veteran of the 42nd Highlanders the Black Watch, retired to 'Tusculum', his Italianate villa in Fisherrow, where he died on 21 December 1877. He was a keen watercolourist and he took an active role in the social life of Musselburgh.