Art Meets Architecture
- Mercedes Smith
- Aug 1
- 6 min read
Words by Mercedes Smith | Images by Goodrest Studios
A stunning new home in Mylor Churchtown pairs coastal design with the best in contemporary Cornish art.
High above Mylor’s yacht harbour, with splendid views over to the Carrick Roads and Roseland Peninsula, stands Angarrack, a house that represents the coming together of the best in Cornish art and architecture. Commissioned by owners John and Sharan Stoker, it is a custom built, state of the art home designed to respect the landscape in which it sits.
Designed by Louisa Meek at CSA Architects of Truro and constructed by Richards Design & Build of West Cornwall, it was created using carefully sourced materials that balance its modern design with its rural setting. “Louisa grew up in Mylor, so she understands the architecture of the area,” says John. “She is an incredibly talented architect who adores Cornwall and we wanted someone who could design a structure that was contemporary yet respected the history of its surroundings.” Of their build team, Sharan says, “Richards came to our notice when we walked our dog past one of their sites in Mylor Bridge. The quality of their build was outstanding and the site workers were incredibly courteous, so we decided that if we ever built a house, they’d be the people for us.”
Turned wood by Anthony Bryant and painting by Jack Davis
Constructed using reclaimed granite, reclaimed oak, and enough reclaimed Delabole slate from a single source for the entire project, its design is nevertheless highly contemporary, “because we firmly believe in architecture that reflects the period in which the building was constructed” John tells me. The result of all this attention to detail by everyone involved is a beautiful, two-storey house that is classically coastal on the outside and luxuriously modern on the inside: the glazed entrance hall, with its bespoke staircase, joins an open-plan living space with furniture by Soho House and Conran.
Floor to ceiling windows run the length of both the east and south walls and the handmade kitchen includes a gleaming white stone-topped island. A utility room leads on to a fabulous Mermaid’s Garden style shower room, “where you can wash off any sand or seawater” John says, and a separate cinema room with a 65-inch screen and built-in blackout blinds “for that authentic ‘movie house’ experience”.
On the first floor there are three luxury bedrooms including a principal suite with glorious harbour views and bathrooms decorated with tiles from North Coast Tile Company of Wadebridge. “Each bathroom was designed to have its own individual character,” Sharan tells me, “based on designs from The National Trust, Italy, the Amazon Rainforest and the Cornish coastline.”
Outside, stone terraces surround the house and a garden building houses an authentic Scandinavian sauna, with a relaxation area, an outdoor shower and a rail for drying your wetsuit after a hard day’s paddle boarding. The lawned gardens are beautifully private, with Cornish hedging and a spectacular wildflower bed, while the three-car garage hosts a games room and bar: “in the unlikely event that the sun doesn’t shine” quips John, “as occasionally happens in Cornwall.”
Most striking however, is the specially commissioned art collection that graces the house. Curated by Ylenia Haase of New Craftsman Gallery St Ives, it is a sensitive translation of the beauty and history of the Cornish peninsula. “We have collected art all of our married life,” says Sharan, “especially from Cornwall and particularly from Ylenia. Over more than a decade we have come to know Ylenia very well indeed and we deeply appreciate her knowledge of art. She possesses a rare gift for spotting talent in others and for presenting their work to people like us who will love and appreciate it just as much. Ylenia has filled the spaces in which we live with so much joy and pleasure, so when it came to Angarrack, we invited her to curate an art collection for the entire house.”
For Ylenia, the invitation was an opportunity to both work with her friends and clients and to support the work of her leading gallery artists. “There was no brief for curating the collection,” says John, “other than to invite Ylenia to visit the house, which she did several times, and to get her own feeling for the spaces. It was a given that she would establish a collection for Angarrack inspired by the landscape, the colours, the water, the sky, the boats, the people and the heart and soul of Cornwall”.
LEFT: Still life painting by Judy Buxton
RIGHT: Paintings by Jack Davis
When Ylenia first saw the house, she envisioned artworks that would draw inspiration from the surrounding coast and seascape. “Angarrack is in a wonderful location,” she says, “set beautifully between land and water. Its views of the countryside and the creek inspired me to curate artworks that reflect the relationship between the landscape and the architecture of the house.” Her choices reflect both the maritime history and the rich artistic heritage of Cornwall, enhancing the aesthetic and narrative of the space and introducing that wonderous spark that fine art brings to any home.
“Art always serves as a focal point,” says Ylenia, “to enhance the interior and enrich the experience of being in the house. The interplay of colours, textures and styles should not only complement but also contrast architectural features. Each piece should carry with it a creative connection or tell a story, adding warmth and character and a true sense of home.” The Angarrack collection includes paintings, ceramics and glass by established artists and emerging young talent, whose practice responds to the beauty of life lived in Cornwall.
Some of the loveliest and most subtle works are by painter Sarah Woods, who captures the Cornish coast at its most peaceful in a palette of soft blues and greys. “Sarah is an artist whose works hang in our own home,” says Ylenia. “Her paintings mirror the peaceful, coastal location of Angarrack and enhance the serene atmosphere of the house.” Equally restful are a selection of still life works by painter Judy Buxton, which hang in one of Angarrack’s luxuriously furnished bedrooms. “Judy’s paintings celebrate Cornwall’s lush and wonderful flora,” says Ylenia, “and pick up on the colour of the wildflowers in the garden. Sharan too is a fan of Judy’s works: “Her paintings are just so calming,” she says.
On the kitchen island one floor below, in a cleverly styled still-life tableau that neatly links to Judy’s paintings, a huge bouquet of azaleas idles in a ceramic vessel by artist Sarah Purvey. “The scale of Sarah’s work fits perfectly with Angarrack’s spacious design,” says Ylenia, “and brings textural elements that contrast the building’s smooth interior surfaces.” Purvey’s ceramics are matched by the equally large scale and texturally rich forms of Anthony Bryant’s turned wood vessels, which hold a commanding presence in the house alongside an iconic Adam Buick Moon Jar, while groups of subtle glassware by Celia Dowson reflect the building’s pure coastal light.
In reference to Mylor’s harbour and seafaring history, Ylenia has selected a series of works by Emma Jeffryes, inspired by Falmouth’s biennial Tall Ships Regatta. These paintings connect with Cornwall’s historic tradition of naive art, which has its roots in the work of 20th century painter and fisherman Alfred Wallace. “They bring a sense of nostalgia and local history to the house”, says Ylenia, “as well as being amongst some of the most admired and collected works we show at New Craftsman Gallery”.
Several paintings by Neil Canning reference Cornwall’s international standing in abstract art and, perhaps most impactful of all are a series of works by rising young artist Jack Davis, who is exhibiting at New Craftsman Gallery for the very first time this summer. “I love Jack’s work,” says Ylenia. “His paintings are incredibly powerful. They explore the raw elements of land, sea, and sky, and capture the essence of seasonal change with striking intensity.” These works, it seems, are designed for sun down and for the moment when summer will change to the brooding uncertainty of autumn on the coast. “Each piece in this collection contributes in its own way to the ambience of the house throughout the seasons,” says Ylenia, “which altogether creates a cohesive and enriching environment.”
For John and Sharan though, there is no distinction between wood, glass, ceramic or painting. “Which artworks do we admire the most?” Sharan considers. “That’s an impossible question for us to answer, because they are as much part of the house as every stone and every slate and we love them all.”
See newcraftsmanstives.com for artwork and curatorial services. Angarrack is available for short term holiday let at boutique-retreats.co.uk.