“ I observe detail in every aspect of my life - I study the shapes, colours, lights and shadows that make up faces, places and things. Observation is the fundamental element to research. By observing my surroundings I am able to learn more about them. The act of observation does not mean to see but to retain information - a mental process involving vision and thought. Realism is not about depicting what you see, but rather about observing small details that make up the object as a whole.”