The abstract painter Mali Morris is fascinated by colour and light, and has been exploring their possibilities in her work for more than 50 years.

She was born in Wales and studied at the University of Newcastle, where the Pop Art pioneer Richard Hamilton was one of her teachers. He brought her and fellow students news of New York which she says “seemed as far away to me as the moon”.

Mali herself taught at a number of art schools including Chelsea, the Slade School and the Royal College of Art. She was elected a Royal Academician in 2010, and last year, flags made from her work hung above Bond Street, not far from the Academy, in a riot of joyous colour.

She currently has a major exhibition at the Ikon Gallery in Birmingham.

Her musical choices include Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi and some blues singing and whistling by Professor Longhair.