A Purpose for Purposefulness? Seeking a role for perceptual drawing in historical research

"I am a figurative painter whose work is rooted in drawing (both literally and metaphorically) from the world around me. After many years spent coming to terms with the purposelessness of my art practice, I have found that other people are beginning to find a purpose in what I do. This article will explore whether my artist's perception of place, expressed through the indeterminate medium of drawing, can find some purpose by making a contribution to historical research".