What is the best thing that I love about my work? I think to feel free, or at least mentally free. Being an artist is like creating a reserve, in the sense of an Indian or First Nation reserve, in your mind where your ideas and obsessions can roam freely without hindrance.

What is my idea of perfect happiness? To have my mind and my life occupied with things that I have chosen to occupy myself with, and to be able to materialise these things in my artwork and, if possible, that they be received by others.                                                                                                                                                                                                     What is my greatest fear? To have to occupy all my time and thoughts with things that don’t interest me; we all have to go there sometimes, but as long as there’s a light at the end of the tunnel…

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Selfishness, I don’t think there’s any way to be an artist without being selfish in some degree.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire? Above all others the artist Soledad Sevilla; the relentless artist who showed me what it’s all about, for good and for bad. I admire many other artists of course, like Peter Doig and David Hockney, and am totally obsessed with Robert Louis Stevenson, to who I’ve dedicated much research and and artwork.

What is my greatest extravagance? Might sound strange but in the art world it’s a bit of an extravagance to be into physical activity. It’s not that I’m not a hedonist, I am, I promise!

On what occasion would I lie? Any occasion, it’s my job. If I worked as an artist without lying it would be awful, just telling the truth all the time, can you imagine?

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Being covered in crap all the time. People think artists like to be scruffy, I don’t think it’s true, I’d love to be elegantly turned out; it’s just impossible.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? My studio is a pretty awful place; it’s dirty, it’s cold (or too hot), it’s lonely… But when things work out and you just know you got it right and people are going to ‘get it’ in the way you want them to ‘get it’… it’s bliss!

If I could, what would I change about myself? Pretty much everything other than stubbornness, it’s very useful in this kind of activity

What is my greatest achievement in work? I don’t know, I try not to measure my creations and exhibitions in terms of achievements, it reeks too much of careerism. To work in anything creative is an achievement.

What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me? Something of course desirable for anybody with creative or artistic inclinations, but something I try not to think about too much. Sadly there is a generation of artists who don’t seem to be seeking financial freedom to create but financial freedom to get rich. It sends shivers down my spine when I hear people in the art world say things like “Hirst is a genius at making money!”. Why should we give a shit?!

Where would I most like to live? That’s an easy one: In Tahiti… Please!!

What is my most treasured possession? My Ukulele. It was a present from my wife when I was learning to play the music of the Hawaiian Royal Family for a painting project called “The Sky Above Honolulu

What is my most marked characteristic? I don’t know, stubbornness perhaps

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? I’m much more inspired by nature than cities. Any of the peaks of Sierra Nevada, right by my city are an enormous source of inspiration for me, as is the Mediterranean Sea by which I grew up.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city? Right by my studio is Bar Damasqueros (I live in Granada, Spain), a great place to be with good music.

What books influenced my life and how? Many books have influenced my life: When I discovered the writing of Alain Robbe-Grillet I had that feeling like I’m not alone, someone’s been around the same feelings before me. I spent quite a few years dealing with his novels (not easy) and ‘translating’ them into artworks. Not that long ago I read The Ebb-Tide by Robert Louis Stevenson and was totally shocked. This was the same guy of Treasure Island that I used to read as a kid!… The last three years of my work have revolved around Stevenson. I’m still working on a painting and sculpture project called ‘Our Men in Tahiti’, and have filmed a short documentary (Our MAN in Tahiti).

Who are my favorite writers? Robert Louis Stevenson, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Georges Perec, Jorge Luis Borges, Leo Tolstoi.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? Maybe Bob Marley, or Bowie… or Stravinsky. The Who!

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Robert Herrick in Stevenson’s The Ebb-Tide, he’s hopelessly real and wants to be good but is too weak. You actually begin to like him towards the end of the book when you realise that those who think they’re good are worse than he is.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? Captain Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Somebody who, together with his followers, is actually doing something to stop this disaster.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? Both the ones I’m going to recommend need to be seen more than once: Last Year in Marienbad and The Big Lebowski. They could hardly be more different!

What role plays art in my life and work? The central role. Everything else pretty much revolves around my work as an artist.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? The artist Jesús Zurita is my friend, my studio partner, a major influence for me and someone whose opinion I always need.

Whom would I like to work with in 2017? Peter Doig. I met him in London last year but was so overwhelmed that I could only babble a few words about how I admire his work.

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2017? Peter Doig, maybe I could make myself intelligible this time round!

What project, in 2017, am I looking forward to work on? I’m currently doing further research on Robert Louis Stevenson and will be starting new related projects.

Where can you see me or my work in 2017? I will be in group shows and art fairs in 2017 and also in a two man exhibition together with artist Antonio Montalvo at the Manuel de Falla auditorium in Granada. We are working on a project to commemorate the centenary of a composition by Manuel de Falla.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? I guess it means there’s no giving up here.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story?I think artists Piers Veness and Katherine Di Turi would be very interesting, as they have amazing works and also run The Square Studio artists initiative.

How can you contact me?” www.simonzabell.com Open 24/7