Artists & their Studios

Ronald Searle is one of 40 artists featured in a new collection of photographs by Eamonn McCabe. The book project conceived by McCabe reveals the work spaces of artists with brief career profiles written by Michael McNay. McCabe's photographs are simple & honest showing each artist in their working environment without any flashy technique. This is perhaps how he managed to coax famously reclusive or shy artists to pose for a shot in their 'inner sanctum'.
I was slightly disappointed to see Searle only in one photograph but we're treated to multiple pages on Hockney, Paula Rego, Peter Blake & Maggi Hambling.


McNay's text is informative & often attacks the new generation of Brit Artists which makes for an entertaining read-he's particularly critical of Marc Quinn & Sam Taylor-Wood.
A selection of photographs from the book are on show at the National Portrait Gallery, London running through the 19th October 2008. However the shot of Ronald Searle is not included.
The book is published by Angela Patchell Books & costs 19.99 (GBP)