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I was an art student at the time, like thousands of others.

I grew up going to museums. I was privileged to discover art and artists in a very personal way.

Experience was my only teacher; I knew little of the modern art movement. When I first saw the works of the Impressionists, van Gogh, van Dongen, and Fauves, I admired it. But I had to seek the true way alone.

I learnt the theory of movement, which I still teach sometimes. I was very, very ambitious to learn a skill.

I also had a tremendous passion for art and read a lot.

I was learning things in school rather than learning how to teach myself, which is what you have to do in life, so I just abandoned it and did ceramics for a year and a half.

I was really good at manicures, facials and make-up.

When I was young, I was interested in Renaissance art.

After university, I was working as a stylist in the Paris theatres when I had a flash of inspiration. I made necklaces from the bikinis designed for the cabaret performers of Folies Bergeres. I was so happy with them that it was only then that I sought out formal training in jewelry.

I started out as an impressionist and that's all about observing - how people move, their voice quality, their attitudes and quirks.