Two French fishing boats lie hauled up on to a beach in the left foreground, the one in front on rollers, and there are figures in the distance to the left. A figure at work, on one of the boats, wears traditional fisherman's clothes. The boat on rollers is tied to a buoy centre right with two other small craft beached at the water's edge beyond. The expanse of sky occupies two thirds of this painting, which creates an airiness, light and space.

These characteristics were typical of the 'Norwich school' of artists to which Bright (1810?-73), a landscape painter and watercolourist, belonged. He mainly painted Norwich views. The painting has been signed by the artist.