spencer returned to england at the end of 1918 and went back to his parents at fernlea in cookham, where he completed "swan upping", the painting he had left unfinished when he enlisted. "swan upping" was first exhibited at the new english art club in 1920 and was bought by j. l. behrend. spencer had begun the painting by making a small oil study and several drawings from memory before visiting turks boatyard beside cookham bridge to confirm his composition. spencer worked systematically from top to bottom on the canvas but had only completed the top two-thirds of the picture when he had to leave it in 1915. returning to the work spencer found it difficult to continue after his war-time experiences, often stating "it is not proper or sensible to expect to paint after such experience."