Rachel Ara

My mum and partner who are also artists were entering, so I thought it would be cool if we all entered. I also love the venue and it’s a great place to meet other artists. The free alcohol at PVs is also an incentive.

The piece is called “ Seeking comfort in an uncomfortable housing market (Buscando conforto em um mercado imobiliário desconfortável)”. It’s a comment on the housing market in Jersey. After 30 odd years in London, I moved back to Jersey to be closer to my parents. I was shocked internships at Worton Hall studios in London the workplace of many of the UK’s most respected master printmakers. The ethos of the gallery is to encourage and promote creative talent at all levels and ages. Working with schools, amateur and professional artists developing talent including those artists with special needs. The new season begins in September with exhibitions by Jersey artists and former Summer Prize winners Lindsay Rutter and Will Lakeman.

We got this year’s winners to show us their winning work… by the housing prices and couldn’t find an affordable studio. The market had become quite divisive and I was meeting people who were paying exorbitant prices to live in cramped accommodation. It made London look reasonable! I was also quite frustrated as my studio contents were in store as I couldn’t find anywhere to practice – so this piece was made in response to this with what I had to hand - at home with an iPhone, amazon packaging, paint, gaffer tape and a sense of humour. It was quite liberating. The layout was inspired by Bruno Munari's 1940s work “Seeking comfort in an uncomfortable chair” that I’ve always had on my studio wall.

WHAT DID YOU PERSONALLY LIKE (APART FROM YOUR OWN WORK!) AT THIS YEAR'S EVENT (Nepotism Warning). I genuinely love the energy and craziness in Kay Le Seelleur’s paintings and Laura Hudson’s spaceman paintings on the staircase. I also enjoyed the colour and life in Jane Yates’s paintings.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?

I’ve now found a studio – so it will take a few months to get that up and running. I’ve got a couple of UK commissions to finish this year, and some bigger public works coming up next year. I’ve also got a couple of funding applications to finish for some short films (I also won the 13th Parish Film Festival this year with my work “The parable of the Leaf blower” so I’m inspired to finish some shorts I began in the 90s). The life of an artist is pretty full-on balancing Art, Work, and Family.

Favorite Artist? Mona Hatoum / Lee Bul

Biggest influence? Life and politics - What’s going on around me

Go-to pencil weight? As long as there’s a lead – I adapt

What's on the wall near your bed? Nothing (Belongings are still in Store)

What educational class would you like to undertake?

Cinema 4D

Give us a piece of advice you'd give our readers…

Don’t be unduly influenced by other artists –do your own thing, work hard, take on board criticism, and above all enjoy it.

We're going for a coffee and cake, what's your order and where? Flat white and (2) bolos de arroz at the Paraiso Café, New Street