Homing In

Sir Christopher Le Brun: The leading painter on the homes that have shaped him


Listen Later

Christopher was President of the Royal Academy for eight years and given a knighthood in 2021. 

 

I first met him a few years ago, when The Modern House was selling his beautiful home in Camberwell. Shortly after that, he had a joint exhibition in Los Angeles with my wife, Faye Toogood, so I got to know him better during the week we were out there together. 

 

This podcast gave me the chance to go a bit deeper, and I really enjoyed finding out more about his life.  

 

Despite always finding himself in positions of authority, Christopher paints a picture of a naturally shy and introspective character.

 

He and his wife, Charlotte Verity, moved out to Somerset a couple of years ago, and we had a snoop around their studios before sitting down to record this podcast in their lovely Georgian farmhouse. 

 

Christopher gives me a fascinating insight into what it's like to be a professional painter: from the importance of the space he's working in, to the rituals he goes through and what he's thinking about. 

 

He tells me about what it's like to live with another artist – how they need to give each other space, and how they critique each other's work. 

 

And we discuss the important houses in his life, notably the Victorian villa that he extended with the help of the architect Jamie Fobert. 

 

I've got a huge amount of respect for Christopher, and I found this conversation so fascinating. I hope you enjoy it too.


For more:

Subscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspiration

Pick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live

Follow Matt Gibberd on Instagram

Follow The Modern House Instagram

Watch our Homing In films on YouTube


Producer: Laconic Collective

Graphic Design: Ben Tucker

Music: Simeon Walker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Homing InBy Matt Gibberd and The Modern House

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

76 ratings


More shows like Homing In

View all
Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,025 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,306 Listeners

The Great Indoors by Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson-Smyth: Interior Design Experts

The Great Indoors

400 Listeners

Talk Art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament

Talk Art

483 Listeners

House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews by Country and Town House

House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews

43 Listeners

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends by Sarah Raven

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

202 Listeners

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent by The Guardian

Comfort Eating with Grace Dent

133 Listeners

Ruthie's Table 4 by iHeartPodcasts

Ruthie's Table 4

298 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

104 Listeners

Dish by Cold Glass Productions

Dish

635 Listeners

Amanda Wakeley: StyleDNA by Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley: StyleDNA

17 Listeners

Off Air with Jane & Fi by The Times

Off Air with Jane & Fi

156 Listeners

The Ins & Outs by Jojo Barr, Pollyanna Wilkinson

The Ins & Outs

102 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

71 Listeners

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud by Bella Freud

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

216 Listeners