Capital artist returned check (5)
I believe the answer is:
rabat
'capital' is the definition.
(Rabat is an example)
'artist returned check' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'returned' is a reversal indicator.
'check' becomes 'tab' ('tab' can be a synonym of 'check'**).
'tab' reversed gives 'bat'.
'ra'+'bat'='RABAT'
(Other definitions for rabat that I've seen before include "Capital of Morocco" , "capital city" , "Moroccan capital" , "N African city" , "North African capital" .)