Daniel is a huge music lover and his artwork is based around portraits of famous musicians like Mick Jagger and Annie Lennox. So it's surprising to learn that Daniel is partially deaf.

Detail of Mick Jagger (study 01) by Daniel Clayton 2002 - acrylic on hardboard

Having suffered a brain tumour when he was about five years old, the illness had a lasting effect on him and left him without his full hearing. You might think this would limit his enjoyment of music, "Not if you play it loud!" says Daniel.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Daniel and his family moved to England eight years ago. His father is an engineer and used to build boats, his older sister went to Winchester Art School and his twin sister is into fashion - you could say he has always been surrounded by art in the family.

He is heavily inspired by Pop Art, especially the work of Andy Warhol and also loves the work of Henri Matisse. These influences come across in his artwork which consists of bright, bold, blocks of colour. He uses oils and acrylics as well as other materials to produce his work and his computer also has a big role to play in his creating process:

Annie Lennox by Daniel Clayton 2004 - acrylic and latex on canvas

"I use the computer a lot. It's become a big part of my life and that's really how I started working. Ever since then I've been using the computer to manipulate my images
and then project them onto my canvases to start painting."

Daniel is intrigued by the charisma and lifestyle that comes from the music industry which is one of the reasons he finds rock stars so fascinating:

"When I was growing up it was a big part of my generation - the rubbish music and kitsch clothing! I had a very musical upbringing - although I'm no musician I've always been surrounded by music and people that play music.

I still have a crush on Annie Lennox! Her music is just so peaceful. She's such an inspiration to myself and other artists. I want to paint good people - people with good intentions.

Daniel will continue to paint musical portraits to create artwork for his final year degree show.

"I feel that I've got something going and it'd be a shame to go in a another direction.

I've been watching the UK Music Hall of Fame recently. I really enjoyed it. Did you notice those big blown up photos? I loved them. I was very inspired by the programme and I have an idea for portraits of Elton John and Bono that I'd like to include in my final year."

Detail of Madonna by Daniel Clayton 2004 - gloss on aluminium

After finishing his degree Daniel has dreams of exhibiting in other galleries and possibly getting his own gallery or a small studio space. First though he wants to go travelling:

"My mate and I are thinking of going to America. I went to New York for a week in March and I was really inspired. I didn't think much of the art to be honest but the actual place, the people and the architecture were amazing."