I HAVE MIXED memories of my schooldays at St Michael's College in Ballsbridge, and later at Blackrock College, Co Dublin. It was during that time that the seeds of my dislike of denominational education were sown

From Blackrock, where my favourite subjects were art and Irish - both teachers were extremely good - I went to Bolton Street to study architecture. Here I had the good fortune to be taught by Robin Walker, who was an outstanding teacher.

I know things have changed greatly over the years, but in those days being in Bolton Street was just like being at school. There was no university atmosphere at all - in fact, we even had a roll call! I doubt if any student would tolerate that today.

I remember one occasion when we got a big campaign going to persuade the college authorities to give us space for a student common room, where we could all meet up socially. They only gave in when they were embarrassed into doing so - the pub across the road had offered us a room.

In class I used to sit beside Donal McCann - who, of course, later became an actor - and many of my classmates went on to be prominent architects.

Throughout my school days I'd been involved in rock `n' roll bands, and after three years at Bolton Street I decided to give up architecture and concentrate on music.

By this time I was playing base guitar for the Chessmen. In those days, Irish dance-band musicians were among the highest paid in the world. I played professionally for three or four years, but gradually I found the music I was playing was becoming less and less interesting.

If you wanted to earn your living from music you had to play what people wanted to hear, and at the time it was country and Irish - the local version of country and western. I disliked it. I decided to get out of music and take up art and I left the showband in 1967.

As an artist I'm largely self-taught. Looking back, I regret not having had access to life-drawing classes and other aspects of fine art. Being able to draw is a useful asset for an artist - you can teach yourself to do anything, but it does take so much longer.

It took me 10 to 15 years to get established. I was well known in the 1970s, but I wasn't making much money. I did a lot of graphic design work in order to earn money while trying to paint pictures to sell.

Being an artist is a daunting profession for a young person. There are no more than 12 artists in this country who are making a living from their art - most people have to do something else as well.