Artist attached to his boat? (7)

I believe the answer is:

painter

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'artist' is the definition.
(painter is a kind of artist)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for painter that I've seen before include "Artist; decorator" , "Sutherland?" , "One who has a brush" , "keeps a boat by the bank" , "Rope; decorator" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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