Annesley began making abstract sculptures in welded steel in the early 1960s. These were often painted in bright colours as in the case of this work. The painted surfaces of Annesley's sculptures were a reaction against the craggy appearance of much sculpture of the 1950s. According to Annesley, using colour opened up 'a whole new way of articulating and realising feeling in sculpture'. Using more than one colour was also a way of emphasising the different parts of the work. In 'Swing Low' the fluid blue and green line is contrasted with the static yellow forms which enclose it. In this way, colour is used to give the sculpture a sense of movement, energy and direction.