Eileen married, had her children and settled into the expected role of housewife and mother, as so many women did in those days, but at 39, Eileen wanted to keep her lively mind occupied, so she went to Stockport Technical College to study Oil Painting under the tutorship of Peter Shaw.

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At this time Derek Wilkinson was Head of the Art & Design Department at Stockport Technical College, and Peter mainly tutored the non-vocational students, and was especially interested in his Life Painting Group, of which Eileen became a student. 

 

However, in around 1981-82 Stockport Council, became determined to make colleges self funding, and did in fact eventually withdraw their funding from all non-vocational courses.  Peter Shaw, aware of these changes, suggested to Eileen that if his Life Painters could find an alternative venue that was suitable, to rent it and carry on painting together. He would then visit and give help and constructive criticism from time to time.  The phrase 'well that is nothing to be ashamed of' was his highest praise. 

Sadly, his death in 1982 put paid to his further contribution to the world of art.

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Eileen and the other Life Painting members did however, find a suitable venue and set up as 'The Peter Shaw Group', named in his honour, where non-vocational students, like themselves, could continue to enjoy learning life drawing and painting, using professional models where ever possible, as a necessary element to their studies.

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Located at the 'Brownie Hut' behind the shop just off the main roundabout by Bramhall Park, members of different local clubs were also attending these sessions and it was through Peter that Eileen first encountered the Bramhall Art Society.

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