CREATIVE types are expected to suffer for their art. York artist Dexter did not endure years of near starvation in a lonely garret. But he was nearly arrested.

When it comes to art, the police know what they like, and it is not graffiti. To prove his work was ephemeral Dexter ate his artist's materials, in this case flour and water. After a few stern words, the law withdrew.

This is just the sort of kerfuffle to get an artist noticed. Previous winners of the Turner Prize have been fashioned from such bizarre substances as elephant dung and fish, halved.

Surely Dexter can now go on to claim the prize with a piece involving porridge and the police.

Updated: 10:36 Tuesday, April 08, 2003