I wanted to do a series of paintings about London’s old cinemas facades. But I couldn’t get them of my back it was, sign this, sign that; go here, go there, and you do your three hours a day job search, arrive on time for your signing, or else.
“Oh, but I’m an artist”.
“Are you really?
And I’m the Duke of Wellington”.
I did one painting. It took me over a year. I kept running out of paint and brushes and I didn’t have the time or the money to get them. I had to get work. The only work available was washing dishes.
So I did this one painting of Hackney Empire.
It feels like I painted it wearing a ball and chain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney_Empire