Degas’ series of sketches, pastels and statues of ballerinas, in particular the ‘Little Dancer Aged Fourteen’ sculpture, 1878-81  

Something about Degas’ work captivates me – the sense of movement and quiet intensity of the dancers, the textures of their costumes, the positioning of their bodies. 

The statue of the Little Dancer is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which is one of my favourite places in the world, and when I walk into the gallery filled with these drawings and paintings, with her statue at the centre, I feel content and complete. It reminds me that great art (and great work) takes time, commitment and the understanding that perfection is not necessary for greatness.

Ms Brunskill