Sometimes I just want to sit and write at a clean table and not get paint all over my hands.

A lot of my words come to me when I'm out and about as well, riding the bus or sat in the pub. I went through a stage of going to a strip bar called the White Horse at lunch times and did a lot of writing in there. They were fine with that but I don't know how they would feel about me setting up the easel.

Other people's songs can inspire me, though - I always have music on when I'm painting.

I sometimes use music as way of getting back to a certain time, dredging up stuff from the past and putting it down on canvas.

Painting is a solitary act for me; I don't need anyone around to make paintings.

Some of my work is very instinctive, some of my favourite things I've ever done are just two minute sketches, nothing is better when you get it like that so quick, then other work takes months.

I used to use a lot of words in the paintings but stopped because it created a narrative - or an answer to a question.