Annabel Rigby has restored a beautiful 17th century stone farmhouse right in the heart of the green and pleasant landscape of the English Cotswolds. She was first attracted to the property because it was a working farm with stables and outbuildings. Although no longer populated by sheep and cows Annabel has gathered together a menagerie of ponies, ducks and dogs. Annabel's three teenage sons exercise the ponies in polo matches and she makes them and the other animals stand still to paint their portraits. Annabel is a much sought after animal painter and has now founded a business with her sister, Playfair Designs to transfer her charcoal drawings on to table mats and mugs. The house originally consisted of lots of small darkly painted rooms. Annabel has sensitively brightened them and used lime wash in soft greys and browns on the walls and beams. She has opened the fireplace between the hall and the kitchen and done away with the door between the two rooms to give the house a flow through. Furnishings are the exemplar of modern and relaxed English country house taste. The Aga is the centre of the house above which is a frieze of farmyard animals painted by Annabel. Comfortable sofas are upholstered in linen in warm red tones, and blue and brown checks. Upstairs are pretty faded rose wallpapers and embroidered voile curtains.Text: Hugh St. Clair
