Looking back over a year of In The Studio, we consider the role of the artist's muse. Why does one subject suggest itself above all others, how does an artist then go about incorporating that subject into their work, and what, if any, are the pressures they feel? From Nitin Sawney’s latest work marking the 60th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem; through Sally Beamish, whose Proms composition was inspired by bees; to Yuri Herrera’s historical novel about Mexican leader Benito Juarez, and Stephen Page, whose aboriginal-heritage inspired his dance work for Sydney Festival; to Elizabeth McGovern who took Ava Gardner as her muse for her latest theatrical performance. We explore how each of these artists used their muse to create a work of art.