|
It may leak and be difficult to heat, but all of the artists I spoke to felt great affection for the Eagle Works building, and the community of artists that they belong to.
 | | Artists in the Eagle Works kitchen |
Derek Jones: ”It’s very difficult to develop a career path [in contemporary art] because there’s very little opportunity to exhibit work in this area. I think there should be more opportunities for people who are working in this way to be able to exhibit their work. But you have to live in the world as it is, you can’t just wish that things could be different. “But we have created a situation where we’ve got studios for artists to work in. We have young artists that come in straight from university – they have an opportunity to have a studio and develop a body of work and get support from people who have been here longer and who perhaps are more able to advise them. Or we get advice from them, very often, because they’re new and come up with new ideas and interact with us. It’s a two way process and that’s what nice about being in contact with other people.
 | | Detail from a Jane O'Reilly painting |
“It’s difficult to work in a home environment. To come and work in a place like this means you can come and do your work, you can leave it, you can meet other artists, talk about what you’re doing and exhibit. There’s that sort of feeling that you are part of a group, rather than just an individual and that does give you a better status to attract funding from places like the Arts Council. For individuals it’s quite difficult, really.” Simon Francis, painter: “The [Eagle Works] building that we occupy is a wonderful building, it’s long, narrowed and has natural light coming in both sides. Because it is slightly falling down, it makes it interesting, it hasn’t got that bland, neat modernity about it.
 | | Derek Jones in the gallery |
“The damp brickwork is always changing colour and is always interesting to study, and actually gives us inspiration. Because we are a visual arts group we like to be within an interesting visual environment. And even though the building doesn’t afford us much in the way of artificial light or good heating it does give us interesting natural vistas.” “I’ve been a member of the Eagle Works studios group for five years. For me it’s been totally wonderful to interact with other artists and to get criticism about my work and for me to criticise their work. I think the best thing that has happened to me, being a member, is I’ve had introductions to dealers in art. Which has led to me selling my work.
 | | Detail from a Simon Harris painting |
“As I’ve said before, it’s because I’ve met people here and because together we’ve organised art fairs that has meant that people who have seen us at art fairs have looked at our work and have taken it further. That’s how I managed to get two exhibitions in London and one exhibition in Montreal.” Jane O’Reily, painter: “It’s vital that this community exists. It’s very very important. The amount of people who’ve never even heard of the artists group. It’s a real shame, because there’s some talented people here. “I love the building. It is bitterly cold in the winter and baking hot in the summer and it does leak and there are bits falling off and you get squirrels and rats… it is a bit like the traditional image of the artist in the garret, really.
 | | Jane O'Reilly, in her studio |
“This is an affordable space. It’s also a great place to be because there are other artists practicing. We can bounce ideas off each other and talk about our work. It’s grand. It means you’re not in isolation.” Entry to the Eagle Works building is by invitation only.
Telephone 01902 425958 or email eagle@eagleworks.org.uk for more information. | 
