When Luke Hannam and his wife Tess decided to relocate from their South London home to a sleepy village near the South Coast, they found the perfect place for their young family to grow and stumbled upon an ideal opportunity for Luke’s career as a painter to blossom.

TEST At the end of a winding path which leads through the garden, Luke’s studio offers a tranquil space in which to work. Fruit, shoes and household objects have been grouped together on a table to form a still life which he is currently painting

At the end of a winding path which leads through the garden, Luke’s studio offers a tranquil space in which to work. Fruit, shoes and household objects have been grouped together on a table to form a still life which he is currently painting

TEST For a modestly sized home, the sitting room is generously proportioned and flooded with natural light. A selection of Luke’s still lifes are hung on the walls, their varied colour palettes standing out from the pale walls

For a modestly sized home, the sitting room is generously proportioned and flooded with natural light. A selection of Luke’s still lifes are hung on the walls, their varied colour palettes standing out from the pale walls

TEST Luke paints precisely but not literally, led by form and colour but a slave to neither. “I try to make a bold statement not anything delicate or twee,” he says...

Luke paints precisely but not literally, led by form and colour but a slave to neither. “I try to make a bold statement not anything delicate or twee,” he says

TEST Swapping South London for the South Coast meant a complete change of lifestyle for the family “(The house is) small but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit like a boat and it has really brought the family together,” Luke says

Swapping South London for the South Coast meant a complete change of lifestyle for the family “(The house is) small but I can’t help thinking it’s a bit like a boat and it has really brought the family together,” Luke says

TEST Across the hallway from the sitting room, the snug room offers the perfect location for the family to hone their musical skills. A striking monochrome self-portrait is propped on a cabinet alongside Luke’s paintings

Across the hallway from the sitting room, the snug room offers the perfect location for the family to hone their musical skills. A striking monochrome self-portrait is propped on a cabinet alongside Luke’s paintings

TEST Doors from the dining room lead out into the garden. A dried branch hung with tiny silver baubles forms a quirky chandelier in the high-ceilinged kitchen

Doors from the dining room lead out into the garden. A dried branch hung with tiny silver baubles forms a quirky chandelier in the high-ceilinged kitchen

TEST The house’s low ceilings add to its ‘boat’ feel. Mismatched chairs grouped around the dining table and arrangements of cottage garden flowers add country charm

The house’s low ceilings add to its ‘boat’ feel. Mismatched chairs grouped around the dining table and arrangements of cottage garden flowers add country charm

TEST Poppy “Even when I’m not working an a particular painting I’m now drawing – on trains on buses, in the street, anything and everything that catches my eye.”

“Even when I’m not working an a particular painting I’m now drawing – on trains on buses, in the street, anything and everything that catches my eye.”

TEST The garden is very much part of the family home. Luke’s studio is tucked away at the bottom and obscured from view by wonderfully wild planting schemes

The garden is very much part of the family home. Luke’s studio is tucked away at the bottom and obscured from view by wonderfully wild planting schemes

TEST The couple and their three children fled suburbia and found sanctuary in the Weald

The couple and their three children fled suburbia and found sanctuary in the Weald

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Lucy Fleming

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