These pieces cover the colonisation of empty buildings and spaces by artists from the late 1970s, especially in London, and the many practical issues and legal problems involved and arising.  The so-called 'gentrification' of the London Docklands and its commercial development began in the 1980s, and the pressures to leave the area placed upon the artists living and working there are recorded in these articles.

By 1984 the Wapping Blues piece marks the effective end of this era, and explores the way artists had effectively saved the Docklands from dereliction - and arson - over many years when public and private financiers were not at all interested in that area of London.

Some of the latest pieces deal with the unique success of the ACME artists' studio and housing organisation, and the way it dealt with the post-Thatcher economic period.  ACME moved away from the occupation of short-life run-down buildings, towards the purchasing of freehold or longer term leases - yet is still able to offer work / live spaces to artists at remarkably low rents.

UK property legislation has been much reformed since the early pieces were written, and many statutory references are now out of date.

• studios