Jack Savoretti & Jemma Powell
MUSICIAN JACK AND ARTIST JEMMA BRING CREATIVITY, COLOUR – AND NONNA’S PESTO – TO FAMILY LIFE IN THE COTSWOLDS
We love being at home.
Jack travels a lot for work so when he’s back here in the UK, our home near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds is our favourite place to be together as a family. Our perfect day in the country is spent with our three children, Connie, Winter and Celeste, and our three dogs, Maggie, Milou and Peggy. We’d probably have close friends and extended family with us, too.
I love to wake up before the madness of family life kicks in.
The light is incredible as the sun rises so I love to paint at this time. It’s very peaceful and a great time to get creative. My studio is next to the kitchen and I love to paint among the hustle and bustle of family life – often there’s no choice! I find when there is lots of noise and the kids are running about, my paintings reflect this, with lots of bright colours and strong energetic brush strokes. When I’m calmer in the morning, my work tends to become more peaceful looking.
Jack’s recording studio and grand piano is in the sitting room at the other end of the house.
This makes our creative spaces somewhat the bookends of our home. Writing, painting and music is all part of our daily routine, and the kids naturally join in – we never force them, but if they want to, the option is there.
We often go out for breakfast.
There’s a wonderful cafe in our village called Quince and Clover, which is run by friends and is a lovely place to go at the weekend. They do delicious coffee and breakfast, and I can take time to update my Instagram @powell.jemma.art as that’s how a lot of collectors find my work. Next door there is Sweetpeas of Great Tew flower shop, where I buy flowers to paint. Floral designer Willow Crossley is also a friend and is local; I love painting her creations.
Lunch is a good Sunday roast.
Or Jack will make a favourite pesto recipe that comes from his nonna. Having friends over for lunch or dinner is our absolute favourite thing to do. There’s nothing better than a full house, with lots of food and plenty of good wine.
We’ll go for a stroll in the afternoon.
Walking is something we enjoy as a family all year round but it also gives me a chance to absorb the landscape and colours and gather ideas in my mind for paintings. The area around Great Tew has incredible walks with some stunning views – and we love a drink in the village pub, the Falkland Arms, when we are done!
A hot salt bath and a gin and tonic is the perfect way to end the day.
Jack partnered up with the makers of Portofino Dry Gin, which is made in Portofino, the inspiring Italian village where he spent summers as a child. I like it with lots of ice and a good tonic.