Wife uses frame to support picture while painting small mammal (6)
I believe the answer is:
weasel
'small mammal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'wife uses frame to support picture while painting' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'wife' could be 'w' (abbreviation) and 'w' is found in the answer.
'frame' could be 'easel' (I've seen this before) and 'easel' is found in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for weasel that I've seen before include "Small mammal with short legs and long body and neck" , "Carnivore; a sly person" , "Predator" , "One deceiving" , "Carnivore (with evasive words)" .)