Hanscomb gains much inspiration from the West Country landscapes, particularly his locality of Bodmin Moor. This is reflected in his work, both figuratively and in abstract imagery; allied to this, his love of music plays an important part in his method of working and he chooses the most suitable sound to empathise with his engraving at that time. A spiritual aspect often imbues his work through his appreciation of Zen Buddhism and personal aspects of Christianity. Very often, a small snail appears, a quirky symbol of his work and his Zen meditation, reflecting just how long some engravings take.