[Margaret] Thatcher had just become prime minister; there was talk about whether it was an advance to have a woman prime minister if it was someone with policies like hers: She may be a woman but she isn't a sister, she may be a sister but she isn't a comrade.

I'd go without food if I could have a flower.

You make beauty and it disappears, I love that.

You're pretending this isn't your life. You think it's going to happen some other time. When you're dead you'll realise you were alive now.

You can't win every week.

Painting doesn't mean just describing; it's a state of spirit.

What I like about a dog it stops people getting after you, they're not going to come round in the night. But they make the place stink because I might want to stay out a few days and when I get back I might want to stay in a few days and a dog can become a tyrant to you.