To have and to hold

Grayson Perry, artist: 'My hands are really small, which is good - a lot of trannies are self-conscious about their hands because they're like spades. That's also why I make coil-pots. It takes strength to manipulate a big pot. Coiling is much more delicate.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Anish Kapoor, sculptor: 'I've been working with this mixture of wax, paint and Vaseline for some time. It's always red, a colour with a physical presence. It's not a colour put on another surface - it's material and, yes, you can see my touch in it. But I make great efforts to get rid of the hand in my work.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Alex Kapranos, guitarist: 'When I started at 13, I'd thrash against the strings, scraping off fingernails and skin. I learned you don't have to hit it that hard to make it sound good. When you're tuned in, your fingers behave independently of your brain. That's when you know you're playing well.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Jacqueline Wilson, author: 'I bought my very first ring when the publishers bought my very first novel. I was about 23. I've celebrated in a similar fashion ever since. I write all my novels with a felt pen in notebooks, but the rings don't get in the way.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Evgeny Kissin, pianist: 'As soon as I was tall enough to reach the keyboard, I started playing the piano, first with one finger, then with all 10. I was two. I wasn't aware of my hands - it felt very natural; an audience shouldn't think about them either. They should just listen to the music.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Courtney Pine, saxophonist: 'My hands are a vital link in the process of turning sound into something others can feel. They're at one with the instrument. My saxophone has 28 holes, and my fingers manipulate, caress, stroke, touch, feel, press, tap, rub and finger every note I can find.' Photograph: Colin Campbell

Antonio Pappano, conductor: 'I feel music as something you can touch. It can be light or heavy. Of course it's invisible, it's an illusion.' Photograph: Colin Campbell