Artist’s difficulty after returning source of funding (6)
I believe the answer is:
bursar
'source of funding' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'artist's difficulty after returning' is the wordplay.
'artist's' becomes 'RA's' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'difficulty' becomes 'rub' (rub can mean a difficulty or problem).
'after returning' says the letters should be written backwards.
'ras'+'rub'='rasrub'
'rasrub' written backwards gives 'BURSAR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bursar that I've seen before include "School finance director" , "Official managing school finances" , "School official in charge of finances" , "College financial officer" , "School's purser" .)