Painter's reason to take the bus back? (5)
I believe the answer is:
bacon
'painter's' is the definition.
(Francis Bacon)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
(Other definitions for bacon that I've seen before include "Cut of pork" , "Food - essayist - painter" , "Francis or Roger?" , "Francis ---, Ir. painter" , "Meat (brought home by a breadwinner?)" .)