thanks for that, very helpfully. luckily there are more than a few very small walls there so will use this method on one or two of these first and sure i have it right rather than b*llocks up a ceiling or larger wall.
Have just been offered a job of completely skimming house that is top to toe in artex (something that i have never had to tackle before), its like standing in a magic eye painting, every wall and ceiling is covered in the damn stuff. I'm sure building should be listed as some kind of warning to...