Having designed and built several clocks during my career it suddenly occurred to me that when you look at the face of a clock both hands have the same center.

The engine of ancient society was religion but the engine of contemporary society, as I see it, is advertising.

The dog, the rabbit and the hoop all feature in the painting, and take the place of the orrery.

I started by looking at what others had done before me. You see, over the years there have been attempts by many different people to reconstruct the chariot.

As I was working I noticed that the way I designed the differential gearing actually created a spare drive that sat directly below the emperor's feet, or where they would be if he were to sit in the chariot.

You see, my ambition was not to confound the engineering world but simply to create a beautiful piece of art.

I think most artists find it difficult to part with their work but it's the parting that keeps us alive and keeps us working. In the case of the chariot, although it's been sold I actually still have it, just in another form.