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Jake Kwesi Bennett

"I was born in Hampstead, London on September 28, 1969 on a Sunday - hence my name 'Kwesi.' (Most tribes in Ghana have both day names, such as Esi for a girl born on Sunday and Kwesi for a boy, and family names.) My father worked with the Ghanaian High Commission in London and that's how I was born in London. I have four older siblings who were also born in London.

"We returned to Ghana in the 1970s and I was immediately enrolled in preparatory school, and I eventually went on to the university.

"I discovered my talent for art at an early age. I realized that I had the talent to draw, and I used to draw just about any object I saw.

"I started commercial painting in my third year at the university (1993/94). I soon started selling my works at art galleries. I had my first exhibition after my graduation in 1996. It was wonderful; I made a lot of contacts and I've since maintained some of them.

"I only paint when I'm in the mood to do so. Since you need to be inspired when at work, one needs to be in the mood to paint. I love using acrylic – it dries faster and the colors are pure and bright. I use the palette knife more than I use the brush. I like using oil pastel and chalk pastel. I also love using watercolors.

"I love painting women because of the style they possess. Their every movement has some mystery and intrigue associated with it. I also paint gourds – a very interesting plant. I like painting seascapes and landscapes because these scenes relax the mind. I sometimes travel to get motifs of places of particular interest."