Do you remember what your first artwork looked like? Do you still have it? My first commissioned illustration was for The Telegraph magazine in London back in 1994. I was fresh out of university that year and was thrilled and excited to receive the job. That commission turned into a weekly editorial job for The Telegraph, which lasted for a few good years. I sadly don’t have any of my original work from that period.Why did you choose illustration as your life’s work instead of, for example, filmmaking, law, or even medicine? I chose illustration because I loved the idea of seeing my art appear in a wide variety of publications: newspapers, magazines, books, and ad posters.Did you study art in school? Yes, I studied graphic art and advertising at Stockport College in Manchester for two years. I then earned a degree in illustration at Kingston Upon Thames University in London. Those were happy days.Where does your inspiration come from; your impulse to make art? Do you have a source for your ideas? My inspiration comes from my very active and, at times, warped imagination. My Mum and Dad said I had too much imagination as a young boy. Is that possible?If you could do something else, other than creating art, what would it be? I always wanted to play football for Manchester United. At 45 years old, I’ve given up on that dream, eh.Do you remember your first set of paints, pens, or markers? As a young boy, my Mum bought me a jumbo marker pen set with 48 different colors inside. She was very smart, my Mum. Those pens kept me quiet and occupied for months.If you could give a viewer clues to understanding your art, what would you say? My art comes from a strong passion to create and share with others. I’m so blessed to have people from all over the world buying my paintings, drawings and collages. It’s a lovely feeling knowing my art brightens people’s homes.Why does art matter to you? Why might it matter to the world? Art is everything to me, and I truly believe that art makes the world a better place in which to live.If you could look back or forward a hundred years, do you think the life of an illustrator was or will be better than today? If I were to look into the future a hundred years from now, I think the life of an illustrator would be an incredibly exciting one. I’m thinking of being frozen like Walt Disney anyway, so I may just be around to see it!