Over the years, one thing that hasn’t changed is the way I start a painting. I don’t work from sketches as I have no preconceived idea of the subject. Working in oils, I start by painting abstract shapes and lines - a bit like automatic writing - which are constantly evolving and changing. I’ll wipe sections down with a rag, add more colour and then eventually a shape will spark off an idea for a painting. I work on panel fixed to a wooden frame and the whole is sanded down and the edges rounded off. I then apply coats of Gesso and Modeling Paste with a further sanding between each coat. I still use canvas for the larger formats, but prefer working on panel as I can’t go through it with my palette-knife.