Hint from artist leaving daily grind (5)
I believe the answer is:
trace
'hint' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'artist leaving daily grind' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'leaving' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'daily grind' becomes 'rat race' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ratrace' with 'ra' removed is 'TRACE'.
'from' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for trace that I've seen before include "Follow to source" , "Copy by drawing on translucent paper" , "Follow and find" , "plan" , "Find; copy; small amount" .)