Where did you grow up? In England. Came to the US in 1990. What brought you to art? The genes, education, upbringing, influences. How often would you say you work in your studio? Once a week. But I also work anywhere I happen to be, mostly drawing. Now I am working every day. Do you approach each painting the same way in a systemized manner, or does it vary? Can you tell us about the way you begin working on one of your paintings? No system. It comes completely as an intuitive process of the moment. Often look at my drawings first, but never do sketches for paintings. I draw it out using charcoal and then outline with a painted line and then fill in areas of color. After that anything can happen. What materials and tools do you use most? For painting - oils (Windsor & Newton) and mixed media. For drawing, sketchbooks, paper, pencils, ink pens, gouache (designer colors). Where do you get inspiration in the studio? I wish I knew - generally from my own work that is already there - ie. could do it better. What are you working on lately? An untitled series about women and sexual appearance, design and fashion and decoration, pattern, etc. Who comes to visit you in the studio? Nobody. Sometimes, my daughter, sometimes curious visitors like the pool man and occasionally another artist or collector. What is the best thing about your work space? It is in my house (easy to get to). What don't you like about your studio (if anything)? It is in my house (ie. distractions). What would be the ideal studio situation for you? (Location, light, size, etc?) A huge space (5,000 sq feet or more), 10 assistants, plenty of wall space for hanging work, top light as well as a view of the ocean, easy access to my house, good ventilation, shipping and packing bay, smaller studio for projects, darkroom, video facilities, digital photography space, storage space for paintings, library and meeting room. How does your studio practice effect the conceptual nature of your work? What was your worst studio adventure? (broken pipes, leaking roofs, bums, ghosts??) No ghosts. Rats coming in and eating the paintings (apparently they love the linseed oil). Anxiety is the root of my work so continual problems keeps the nervous system functioning at a high level. What do you want to know about the next studio artist on SpyMart? Not sure...who is it going to be? Visit James Scott on the web: www.james-scott.com.