What was the first exhibition you went to see?
I don’t remember what the first one was but sprinting through the Hermitage in St Petersburg as a teenager with my brother in a valiant yet futile attempt to see as many of the three million plus artworks as we could in three hours was a memorable experience.

What was your first paid job as an artist?
Does a £12 book token for 1st prize in the National Museum’s annual children’s drawing competition in 1990 count?

What kind of music do you listen to while you’re working?
It’s normally just on shuffle (unless I’m writing a funding application when only absolute silence will get me through) but at the moment I’m enjoying a Bon Iver appreciation phase.

What are the best things about opening nights?
Not feeling guilty about not attending.

Do you read reviews of your work?
I do, I always find it amusing to be referred to as ‘Walker’.

Which living artist should be better known than they currently are?
I think Salla Tykkä is very smart, I love her Lasso/Thriller/Cave trilogy. Anu Pennanen is another talented Finn.

What has been your career highlight to date?
1st prize in the National Museum’s annual children’s drawing competition – it’s been downhill for my draughtsmanship skills since then. Other than that, getting to meet Francis Alÿs, Jimmie Durham and Teresa Margolles and being starstruck and delighted that art heroes can also be super-nice people.

What is your favorite work of art?
I think it’s got to be ‘When Faith Moves Mountains’ by Francis Alÿs. It’s magical. Also, I saw Kerry Tribe’s HM a wee while ago and thought that was genius.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t stress about the wee things and don’t be afraid of the big things.

Katri Walker gives an artist’s talk at the Waiting Place, Edinburgh Art Festival pavilion, St Andrew Square, 10 Aug.

Rapture [extract]