I've always wanted to create drama in my pictures, which is why I paint people. It's people who have brought drama to pictures from the beginning. The simplest human gestures tell stories.

Full, saturated colours have an emotional significance I want to avoid.

As far as I am concerned the paint is the person. I want it to work for me just as flesh does

I've always wanted to create drama in my pictures, which is why I paint people. It's people who have brought drama to pictures from the beginning. The simplest human gestures tell stories.

I am only interested in painting the actual person, in doing a painting of them, not in using them to some ulterior end of art. For me, to use someone doing something not native to them would be wrong.

My work is purely autobiographical... It is about myself and my surroundings.

The only secret I can claim to have is concentration, and that's something that can't be taught.