Romeo and Juliet

Only my second "proper" piece of artwork, 1998's Romeo and Juliet remains one of my favourite pieces. When I was directing the photoshoot, all I knew was that I wanted a girl screaming; the photos were taken in Greyfriars kirkyard and the iron bars are from a tomb there.

The church in the background is one of the chapels on The Royal Mile. The flowers at the bottom are not, in fact, real flowers but the pattern of the top that "Juliet" was wearing. This piece seemed to come together perfectly and was highly effective at selling what was, in the end, not a tremendous show.

Indeed, Richard Shelton – of 12 Months To Midnight – spent some time decontructing the whole poster, talking about how it had terrific lines of action all through it, and pointing out exactly where and how this worked. I had never thought about it – I just played about until things looked "right" – but I have considered his advice ever since.