Paula Rego

quizzed by Anthony Gardner

Born in Lisbon, Paula Rego became an artist after studying at the Slade School of Art. She has been based in London for the past 30 years. Her work has taken many forms - including collages, prints and pastels - and often draws disturbingly on images from childhood. Her most recent exhibition, in New York, was entitled 'Human Cargo'.






Apart from human cargo, what was the most important theme of your latest exhibition? Honour killing.

Which children's story fascinates you most? Peter Pan, which is not really a children's story.

What book are you reading at the moment? Somerset Maugham's The Magician.

Which is your favourite film? Some Like it Hot.

And your favourite opera? Rigoletto.

If you could be any animal, which would you choose? A pig.

Which living European artists do you especially admire? Gerald Scarfe.

Which artist has influenced you most? James Ensor.

What advice would you give to an aspiring artist? Do a lot of drawing.

What are the important objects in your studio, apart from paintings and materials? The props I make, to copy from.

At what time of day do you work best? Four o'clock in the afternoon.

What do you miss most about Portugal? Chourico doce.

What do you think the English could learn from the Portuguese? Fado.

And the Portuguese from the English? Tolerance.

What makes you laugh? The Marx Brothers.

What do you most often dream about? I don't remember my dreams.

Do you look back on your childhood now with nostalgia or horror? Neither. I look back just to remember as clearly as I can.

Is there a politician you admire above all others? No.

What is the theme of your next show? I have no idea.