For some artists, all roads lead to Balbriggan in north Co Dublin. It's an artists' stronghold, according to two artists who work in the coastal town.
Maura Murtagh and Thomas Brezing came to the Ashford Gallery, in Dublin's Royal Hibernian Academy, this week to attend an exhibition of their work, which continues until Sunday, August 18th.
Balbriggan has everything, they say. "I just needed to live somewhere else. We didn't want to move away from Balbriggan. It's a bit of a stronghold," said Brezing, explaining how three group studios are already up and running in the town, including their own five-strong space called Renegade Art studios.
"You wouldn't get what we have in the city," said Murtagh. "It's close to nature as well. It's on our doorstep. We all live in the area."
As to the nature of their work: "I'm a story-telling painter. I'm tackling my own German history, the second world war, the fall of an empire. I suppose I want that to be a universal story," said Brezing
For Murtagh, who is from Cobh, Co Cork, "it originates from Dante. It's about the creative process".
Aidan Doyle, with his friends, Monica Henchy and Laragh O'Grady, stood back to examine the work.
"I'm intrigued with her evolution from her show in Tinaheelhy, Co Wicklow [last year]. There has been a constant development in terms of scale and ambition," said one of the artist's friends, Cormac Sheridan, science writer from Cork, and budding art critic.
Mark St John Ellis, co-ordinator of the Ashford Gallery, explains that the space is aimed at providing a launch-pad for emerging artists and emerging work.
"It's not a commercially-driven gallery. Of course, work is for sale but there's no push."