This painting was given to the vendor's girlfriend by Sid Vicious in around 1974 when they attended Hackney College together, Vicious was a frequent visitor to the vendor's flat at that time. Vicious attended the college, where he met John Lydon, to study photography but only stayed for two terms.

The painting is signed John B which stands for John Beverley - although Sid was born Simon John Ritchie, he often called himself Beverley which was the surname of his mother's second husband. He was known as Simon to his mother although most of his friends called him John. He was later given the name Sid, apparently by Johnny Rotten who named him after his hamster, the surname Vicious came later and was inspired by the song of the same name by Lou Reed. Vicious used the 'Highwayman' motif on all his artwork at this time - a drawing of a similar style to the one in this lot is reproduced on page 23 of Sid's Way.