CR: How did you get into working with paper the way you do?
HM: I think I got into working with paper because I thought it would be quicker than painting (not true) and I also love the rich, flat and continuous colours of paper. I'm also very keen on watercolour paper, I like the different textures and brown paper and card for its utilitarianism. I really like that you can score, fold, curl and photocopy onto paper. I use a lot of pattern that I get from my collection of 60s and 70s pillowcase and duvet covers.

Japanese patterned fabric is good to use too. I like the idea of building layers, to create a scene that the viewer could jump into, another world that’s a bit like a fairytale or a children's story – everything’s nice and everyone's happy.

CR: Looking at images of your work (rather than at the artworks themselves), it’s tricky to know the scale you work at – tell us about the size of image you tend to create...
HM: I make most of my work to fit into any box frame that I can find to buy, I used to buy a tiny frame (until it was discontinued a few weeks ago) that was only 115mm square x 45mm deep. I've made pieces up to 800mm x 600mm and all sizes between.

CR: Undergrowth, woods and birds... Tell us about your choice of subject matter and what inspires you
HM: My choice of subject matter is inspired by things I see everyday walking my dog. I live in semi-suburbia, really close to the countryside. I really notice the changing of the seasons and am enamored by the beauty and complexity of Mother Nature. I really like leaves, the shape, colour, and uniformity, I like the shapes of trees and branches, the colour combinations that occur naturally and I like the character and natural engineering of birds, oh and I love owls! There’s nothing I like more than to be walking down the lane and being greeted by a Friesian cow looking over the hedge.

CR: Your images are a bit like stage sets – have you ever been asked to design a set for a theatre or film production? Stepping up to a larger scale – and perhaps working with materials like wood and metals – is that something you’d fancy doing ever?
HM: I would love to work on a much larger scale; I think it would be a natural progression as I said before I want viewers of my work to want to jump in – so with a film or theatre set you really could do that.

Metals, wood and plastic would all be great to work with, thinking about it a large sculpture would be fantastic to do... a life-size tree with owls and birds, I'd love to get my teeth stuck into a commission like that.

CR: What else makes you tick? What are your favourite biscuits and what’s on your stereo this week!?
HM: What else makes me tick? Lets see... the vastness and immediacy of the internet, buying a new book, listening to music, the scent of roses, sweet chilli crisps and rosé wine. And my dog when he sits at the top of the stairs with a stolen shoe in his mouth...