"Every so often I find myself in Modern 2, standing transfixed gazing into the Paolozzi studio. Imagining him sitting amongst his vast array of casts working on his latest idea. I return to my own studio, in awe of this man's work and sit amongst my own modest array of maquettes for public projects and half finished sculptures – started with every good intention!

The invitation to exhibit at Fidra was a push I was seriously needing! Searching through the SNG image archive I happened across these quick sketchy ink drawings by Paolozzi - I had not seen these before. They took me back to drawings I had produced myself for my 1985 degree show at ECA. Using a Chinese calligraphy brush: Mao bi or "hairy brush" as it translates. I wonder if this may have been what the Paolozzi used - he might have used a felt-tip pen? This isn't really relevant, but I just like to imagine... Poalozzi's drawings took me back to a time when I made a very different type of sculpture to that of my public art works.

The drawings inspired this latest piece. A 3 dimensional interpretation of a small section of his drawing - I wonder what Paolozzi would think? I wonder how long he took to do his drawing? I suspect it was completed more quickly than my sculpture!" Ailsa Magnus