Have you always been an artist?
Having had a forward-thinking art teacher at school, I was lucky enough to be able to make art a priority during my ‘O’ and ‘A’ level years. This provided the foundation for me being an artist today, although my career began in textile design.

Describe your painting style.
A style that’s individual to me hopefully, but that could be influenced by studying a wide and diverse range of artists over the years, from Paul Cézanne and David Hockney to Alfred Wallis. The sea is particularly inspirational. I’m obsessed with looking at it.

Tell us about your studio.
It was our dining room, so not designed as a studio but good enough. If you really want to paint, it doesn’t matter what space you’ve got, you’ll adapt. The most obscure space I’ve used to work in was the corner of my parents’ bedroom (Because I needed somewhere to do freelance design work during the college holidays).

What are you most proud of achieving as an artist?
The first time I showed any paintings in a gallery was at the New Craftsman in 1997. It was a collection of 12 paintings and within a couple of weeks, they’d all sold, but one. I was enormously proud of this.

Whose work do you own?
I’m very proud to own a couple of Rosie Scott’s as luckily we are friends and I was able to do a swap. I’ve come close to buying Maggie Mathews and a small beautiful Rose Hilton but sadly, just couldn’t quite afford them.

What do you do in your spare time?
Spend it with my family going for adventures in our newly purchased (but old) camper-van and generally exploring the wonders that Cornwall has to offer, often involving bikes and getting wet, muddy or sandy.

Q&A 2009