During my first ceramics exhibition my teacher Yiannis Moralis visited when I wasn't there. Later he called me to say he thought my work was very personal and successful. I was so excited to hear that because I trusted his opinion greatly. That gave me the strength and courage to continue.

I am deeply touched by folk art and traditions from all over the globe. Tradition lives inside me and finds expression in my work very naturally, even though my artwork is not directly linked to a specific traditional technique.

For me, it means that the artist has used perfect technique and effort to push the materials to their limits. But neither of these two elements characterises my work, which is based primarily on spontaneity coupled with my experience of design and colour.

I would tell them that first and foremost, they should search inside themselves to truly realise if they are available to follow this path or not. The work of an artist is incredibly lonely and requires great mental and spiritual strength.