Faded Glamour In The City: Pearl Lowe At Home With Artist Jonathan Yeo

Pearl Lowe profiles the acclaimed portrait artist’s studio in her new book …

This unique London property is not a private home, but the working studio and creative hub of an innovative portrait painter who is one of Britain’s most prominent contemporary artists. In 2017 Vanity Fair declared, ‘in 21st-century Britain you do not exist as a public figure unless you have been painted by Jonathan Yeo.’

Jonny has worked with countless celebrated subjects, from A-list actors to political leaders. Spectacularly, in 2024 he unveiled his highly publicised ‘red’ portrait of King Charles, the first official likeness since the coronation. On the opposite side of the spectrum, as a favour to a friend, Jonny helped Danny out by designing one of his solo album covers.

I’ve known Jonny and his wife Shebah Ronay for many years – we once found ourselves staying in the same hotel in Miami for Christmas and, although it was totally unplanned, our two families had such a fun time together. Not only is Jonny an unbelievably talented artist, he’s also a really cool guy with a passion for designing interiors and a great eye for sourcing furniture and putting it all together.

The director’s office is furnished with a vintage Johannes Andersen coffee table, an old leather sofa and stacking chairs by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli. Mappa Dell’Antico Futuro (Study) by Jonathan Yeo is displayed on the easel next to the vintage desk and Eames desk chair.

I really wanted to include his studio in the book, as for me it illustrates how a formerly industrial building can have new life breathed into it when it falls into the right hands. It has been transformed into a creative space that exudes faded glamour in an understated way. All cities are shaped by their industrial past, from the wool and cloth trade of Frome, my home town in Somerset, to the development of the docks and associated industries in the East End of London, where my father grew up. A book on Faded Glamour in the City didn’t feel complete without a nod to the industrial history of this vibrant metropolis.

In 2021, Jonny had to move out of the set of studios that he’d used for a decade and he spent months searching across London for an interesting space. When he was shown this building, which had been constructed as a factory for pianos and organs in the late 19th century, he loved it at first sight: ‘The unique triangular shape, the double-height atrium, its relatively hidden location at the end of a road, the original steel-framed windows overlooking a beautiful park, the Victorian industrial features, its great light and overall sense of calm all added to its allure.’

The building’s triangular shape is evident in the main studio. Vintage stools are the perfect height for resting palettes on, alongside easels from Mabef and R Baldwin of Chelsea. Finished works include Giancarlo Esposito, Sophia Loren, Sir Peter Blake, Maxine Peake, Pierce Brosnan and Paradox of Progress Trial.

Previously the offices of a music production company, the interior was tired, functional and dated when Jonny took ownership, so he spent ten months renovating it, meaning he had no proper space to paint for nearly a year. He removed the main staircase and installed new spiral steps of his own design, and replaced some internal walls and doors with steel-framed ones, echoing the windows. When the floorboards in the painting studio upstairs were taken up, the original ones were revealed, complete with patches of old paint and lacquer that may date back to the building’s early use.

I remember Jonny’s excitement when he bought this place and the first time I saw it I could see why. The light streaming in is incredible, like a warm glow, and he’s decorated and furnished it so beautifully that it feels like a home. My first words were, ‘Wow, it’s so cool, I could live here!’

The garden room has a mid-century feel with its ochre walls, floor-to-ceiling curtains and geometric rug. A pair of vintage green velvet sofas offers an inviting space for conversation. The sconces are 1950s Swedish glass and brass, while the chandeliers are from Soho Home.

Jonny’s aim was to create a series of separate yet connected workspaces for different studio practices, whether painting, sculpting, working on tech projects or hosting meetings. The amazing 7m/23ft-high atrium at the centre is the main social and meeting area – it’s also been the setting for some great drinks parties!

The main influence on the design of the interior was the building itself, as Jonny wanted to reference its unique history but bring it up to date. He has incorporated plants and wooden furniture to soften the industrial feel. ‘It’s a mix of contemporary and mid-century design interspersed with vintage curios and oddities that I’ve collected over the years. I’ve integrated some furniture from the 1950s and gradually added newer pieces.’

The snug, a small annex off the main painting studio, is Jonny’s favourite space in the building. It has two large windows that look out over the trees in the park, which inspired Jonny to clad the walls in reclaimed wood and add lots of greenery. The mid-century Case Forum sofa was designed by Robin Day.

Some of Jonny’s favourite places to source furniture are Ed Butcher, The Old Cinema, Alfies Antique Market and Kempton antiques market. He also picked up some pieces online. ‘Vintage shopping is quite addictive and I’m often found at the local flea market when I travel to other countries – Istanbul and Paris are particular favourites,’ he confessed. A man after my own heart!