Where did you grow up and how has this inf luenced your art?
I grew up in the Netherlands. Though we’re known for our Old Masters and proud of that heritage, I didn’t find any art schools that would teach me how to paint and draw figuratively. I got the feeling it was looked down on by art universities.
When I tell this to my students now, I notice this is common among figurative artists. There seems to be a real divide between figurative and contemporar y art practice.
I moved to the UK to pursue my goals and found more of a thriving figurative scene, which invigorates me. I think this is changing now, and figurative art is again getting more international attention.