ARTISTS who lost their studios in a fire last year are reuniting for an exhibition to show their determination to keep producing artwork.

The exhibition, ‘6 Bridport Artists’, will feature artwork from Caroline Ireland, David Brooke, Marion Taylor, Kit Glaisyer, Charlotte Miller and John Boyd, who worked out of the studios at St Michael’s Trading Estate in Bridport before they burnt down in July 2018.

A fundraising campaign to help those affected was set up following the fire but the building remains a ruin, with artists finding other studio space.

The artists lost most or all their work but have continued making pieces, which will go on show at Eype Centre of the Arts from April 13 to 28.

They said: “A big thank you to all the supporters in Bridport and across the west country who gave so generously of their time, practical help and financial aid after the fire.

“We intend our exhibition to go in some small way to thanking everyone for keeping us going.”

The artists say the exhibition will be a testament to the tenacity and determination of a group of artists to keep up their artistic, creative output and to maintain what was already a challenging way of making a living.

Caroline Ireland is certain she would have really struggled to take part in exhibitions this year if it hadn’t been for the support she received from the local community.

She said: “The people of Bridport have been wonderful.

“People have stopped me in the street to ask me how things are going ever since the fire, even saying it felt that the heart of Bridport had been lost of broken, which is incredibly humbling.

“If it hadn’t been for such a good support network, and help of many kinds, I would have had to think twice about taking part in exhibitions as I lost so much of my artwork.

“We have all been offered so much help and kindness, from practical storage solutions, to removing items from the ruined building, financial aid and fundraising events and huge amounts of moral support.”

The exhibition runs from Saturday (13/4) to Sunday, April 28 in St Peter’s Church, Eype, and will be open daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm. There will also be an opportunity to meet all the artists on Saturday.

For more information, visit stmichaelsartists.com