What makes an artist become a bronze sculptor? In this interview, sculptor Vanessa Pooley talks about the path that led her to making her contemporary figurative sculptures.

Interviewer: When did your fascination with the female form begin?

Vanessa Pooley: The beautiful shape of the female form has always intrigued me. Even as I child at nursery I used to draw pictures of girls, wearing triangle-dresses - the sort that kids use when they want to draw 'a lady'. I was for ever sketching and doodling, and in the end my teacher said I mustn't do any more drawings but should get back to learning to read and write.

Interviewer: When did you first start to mould figures, rather than draw them?

Vanessa Pooley: As a child, we often went to the seaside village of Walberswick which has a fabulous beach. By the time I was around 10, I'd started to dig out lumps of raw clay from beneath the sand. It was pretty rough and stony, but I could mould it, and I began making quite stylised female heads, with straight noses and long hair. My mother would 'fire' them in the top oven of our Aga, and then I'd paint them as if I was putting on their make-up!

Interviewer: So who was it, who first recognized your potential?

Vanessa Pooley: There was a wonderful old lady, Mrs Gold, in the village, and she bought one of my sculpted heads at the summer fete. She took me seriously, and gave me real encouragement - as did one of my brothers- and helped me realize I could make a career out of being a sculptor.

Interviewer: Did you go straight to art college after school?

Vanessa Pooley: No, I didn't have the confidence, so I went to university to read Sociology, which felt a lot safer than starting to train as a sculptor in bronze. But it just wasn't right for me, and after a few months I took that all important step towards becoming a professional and switched to Norwich Art College to study Fine Art. I would say to any budding artists that they should follow their instincts, and if they want to study art, go all out to do so.

Interviewer: Did you enjoy your time at art school?

Vanessa Pooley: Absolutely! I spent months studying life drawing, which is a crucial skill for a figurative sculptor. Then I went on to a Sculpture degree course followed by a postgrad course at City and Guilds of London Art School, where we all worked from models to sculpt life-size pieces. I developed all the skills a bronze sculptor needs - making moulds and armatures, accurate measuring, how to make a figure that is balanced and pleasing. Again, to would-be sculptors I'd suggest that they find a way to learn the technical side of the job - it makes all the difference.

Interviewer: When did you first have an exhibition?

Vanessa Pooley: The very first was one I set up for myself in Southwark Cathedral, where they often allowed artists to run little exhibitions at a low cost.

Interviewer: That was more than 20 years ago now - what's happened since then?

Vanessa Pooley: My work has been shown in lots of galleries and I spend most days in the studio. There's no substitute for simply 'doing it', and when students contact me for advice I tell them to get as much experience as they can, and concentrate on developing their own personal style.