The natural beauty of the countryside around East Lothian has inspired many artists over the centuries. This pastoral scene was painted around 1911, by the Edinburgh artist, William Marshall Brown, (RSA, RSW, 1863 - 1936).

This is an oil on canvas painting showing three women hard at work hoeing a field. The ladies are all wearing long aprons to protect their clothes whilst they work. Each lady also wears a bonnet to keep the sun from her face. The flat open fields of the background are distinctive of East Lothian's countryside.

William Marshall Brown RSA, RSW, was born in Edinburgh in 1863. He travelled throughout Britain and Europe producing oil and watercolour paintings. He particularly enjoyed figurative and landscape painting.