Currently...

I am an exhibition and commission based artist specialising in http://ianbruceportraits.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">portraiture and the singer in a contemporary swing duo called http://www.myspace.com/thecorrespondentsmusic/" rel="nofollow">The Correspondents.

I'm busy painting in the studio, doing admin for gigs and commissions, and meeting people, from collaborators to record labels. I'm recording when I can and gigging two or three times a week in the evenings.

Every day is different. I try and take Mondays off for the simple fact that everyone else is working!

Before I escaped...

Since leaving university / art college I have performed and painted. I’m lucky - I don’t think I have had to do anything else.

My moment of truth...

My moment of truth when I was about four, but I had no expectations of being a singer. It's a necessity - I can’t do anything else!

Planning for it...

I was a resident MC in a club in Edinburgh for three years. I have painted commissioned portraits since I was 16. Bit by bit you are able to charge more as you become better known and more skilled at doing what you do, and become better at dealing with the business side.

I did a lot of networking / socialising / developing a presence on the Internet (our http://thecorrespondents.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">website, MySpace and even Facebook) consistently advertising the fact that we are still relevant!

The worst and best bits...

Worst: Needing self-discipline. The realisation that if you don’t do it, it won’t get done.

Best: Freedom - choosing who you want to work with and forging really strong work relationships. The feeling of gratification when you can see others taking an interest. Work and play become one indecipherable entity.

Best advice...

At every stage, endeavour to do the best you can as you never know who might take notice.

Something isn’t worth doing unless you are nervous and excited in equal measure.

Useful resources and information...

Friends - for criticism!