Phyllida Barlow, a specialist in sculpture and installation, taught at the Slade School of Art in London for decades. Some of her students, such as Rachel Whiteread and Martin Creed, became famous – but for more than 40 years she stayed in the background, though she was consistently creating works in her own studio. Even when no one was there to view her art, she kept on making it. One project saw her go out at night alone and throw artworks in the Thames. Here she is in her studio in 2012.
Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/the Guardian
