Alone with the loners

Frank Auerbach. 'Frank works and sleeps in a tiny studio in Camden Town, north London. Now aged 77 and with his fingernails full of years of paint, he has little time even for old friends, because he feels he is running out of time.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe /Guardian

Bridget Riley. 'Although she has a team of helpers, Riley is very hands-on, and I loved the Blue Peter feel to this photograph taken in her studio in Holland Park, west London.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Grayson Perry. 'I was very keen to photograph him as an artist, not as a transvestite. His north London studio is full to the brim with books and references that he incorporates into his pots. The magazine Sissies on Parade gives the game away.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Jeff Koons. 'Big reputation and great suits, but he could not have been more helpful. He was not going to leave until I got what I wanted.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Howard Hodgkin. 'I had taken some good pictures in his central London studio with his work, but pushed him (gently) into letting me into his "thinking room", full of his favourite things, which say so much about him.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Marc Quinn. 'This was at the time of the blood heads, and I was a little nervous of what he might be like. The east London studio was full of hard-hitting images of things he was working on, but he was happy to pose.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian

Maggi Hambling. 'The first words Maggi said to me were "You're late." Not a good start. And when I suggested that we do a picture in her south London studio, she barked: "No ... I'm bored with all that rubbish." We're great friends now.' Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/Guardian