In reality colour doesn't actually exist, so with this perhaps new-found fact you might worry that finding inspiration could prove to be rather difficult!

Not so, and here's why.......the cones (all 6 million of them) in the centre of the retina in each of our eyes act as receptors and send signals to our brain which in turn produces familiar 'sensations' of colour. The retina measures the light reflectance from a surface, and dependent on the wavelength, the brain gives us a 'feeling' of the colour.

An extension of our eyes these days is undoubtedly the mobile phone and its now-standard high-resolution camera, the perfect device that lets us record what we see...it even allows us to enhance the images if we're that way inclined. So, rather than look at a tired, old paint palette book or be influenced by Big Paint Selling Machines latest must-have (regurgitated with a new name) colour, I prefer to create my own colour library. The combination of travel and mobile device gives me access to the largest, most unique collection of colour possible...the living World.

My recurring theme in the last 12-18 months has been weather-worn, aged and even decaying doors, windows and the like for natural, calming tones and at the other end of the spectrum graffiti for more vibrant, eclectic colours.

If nothing else, what a great excuse to travel....if ever an excuse was needed!