Artist dips composition in currents (6)
I believe the answer is:
rapids
'currents' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't see how one could define the other.
'artist dips composition in' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'composition' is an anagram indicator.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'dips' is an anagram of 'pids'.
'ra' going within 'pids' is 'RAPIDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rapids that I've seen before include "Where rivers run fast" , "Part of a river where the current is very fast" , "Fast currents (shot by explorers?)" , "fast flowing water" , "Fast river flows, white waters" .)