I see painting as an illustrated method for telling stories. I began my art education in illustration and then moved over to fine art. When I first started in fine art, everything was conceptual, or being forcibly conceptualised - the notion of an intelligent painting was an absurdity. Since then painting has made a comeback, and esthetics as a production value has also returned. The foray into conceptual oblivion has been helpful: today’s paintings go beyond being eye-candy, they are pretty and smart!