From an early age, I loved to draw: it was something I was good at and something I enjoyed. It wasn’t till I was fifteen, though, that I decided if I was going to make the most of my talent, I needed to learn how to paint.

Experimenting with media and format, I initially tried working with watercolours on hardboard, trying to recreate - unsuccessfully - the effects of oil paints.

The work of airbrush artists at the time fascinated me: how did they achieve that flawless finish? The art of British illustrator, Andrew Skilleter, was a particular inspiration. I was determined to master this intriguing genre.