Artist Garry Harper bought a 1920s sandstone terrace

IT WAS the light that attracted artist Garry Harper to his current home. Light, and the fact that he could put his own stamp on the property.

The 1920s sandstone terrace house is in Glasgow’s leafy Muirend, and while it had been a well-loved family home, when Garry bought it six years ago it needed a makeover.

The three-bedroom house now reflects Garry’s artistic eye for detail – from the sanded original floorboards and hand-painted staircase to a reproduction fireplace in the living room, which was commissioned to tie in with the age of the property. The tone of paint used on each wall showcases Garry’s artwork to full effect, while he and his partner completely reworked the rear of the house to create an open-plan dining kitchen, and also added a walk-in larder and a downstairs toilet.

The hallway lost fuchsia pink walls and carpet, and found a fresh neutral palette, while the formerly dark staircase has been painted white. Upstairs, a 1960s lime green bathroom was ripped out and replaced by a modern white suite, underfloor heating, black slate floor tiles, textured pewter-coloured wall tiles and a contemporary rain shower. Most walls and ceilings in the house were replastered and the attic room was insulated for use as a studio.

When I visited Garry, he was in the throes of creating work to show at this month’s Edinburgh Art Fair. A Glasgow School of Art graduate, he was a graphic artist for STV for 20 years before taking the leap to paint full-time three years ago. “It was a great buzz working at STV, but I always painted,” says Garry. “The longing to paint full-time grew and grew.

“I love the reaction I get from some people when they see my work. I am fuelled by drawing and painting people, and always have been. Even at school, teachers would give me photographs of their children to paint and I would earn pocket money that way.”

Moving to this house gave Garry the opportunity to create a sizeable studio as well as his own framing workshop. “The minute I saw the attic room, I knew it would be a perfect studio space for me,” he says. “We raised the roof beams by a foot to give more head height and got them planed to give them life again. I also converted part of the basement so that I can do my own framing. Friends and family helped us dig the basement out, again to give greater head height.”

Nevertheless, it was on the main living rooms that Garry initially had to focus. As the original kitchen was small, a wall between it and the dining room was knocked down to make it one large open space that spans the width of the house. A new kitchen was installed, teaming white gloss units from Wickes with a worktop and double Belfast sink from Ikea. The wooden floors were sanded and relaid. “I stayed at my grandfather’s house for a while, which allowed us to come here and create the mess that we needed to, which was a lot when bringing down a wall and lifting floors,” recalls Garry. “We chose a glass splashback for the kitchen, but I want it a bit bluer so plan to replace it with one with more of an aqua tone through it.”

A reclaimed church pew borders a long wooden Habitat dining table, which has been the scene of many dinner parties. “Last Christmas we had 25 people for dinner – we did it in two sittings,” laughs Garry. “I have four sisters, so they all pile in with the kids. It is a great kitchen for entertaining, and people always mention the light in here, which I love. If I was ever to build a modern house, it would be glass-fronted with lots of natural daylight.”

The living room is also a lovely light-filled space, with plenty of wall for Garry’s art, as well as the opportunity to display decorative pieces he picks up on his travels. However, when he bought the house, the room housed an old stone fireplace that ran along the length of the main wall, with Artex on the walls and ceiling. “We took the fireplace out the day we came here,” Garry recalls.

“I had noticed through a neighbour’s window that they had an original fireplace, so they allowed me to take pictures of it and I got my joiner friend to make this fireplace in the same style for me. We put in a cast-iron inset, which I bought on eBay for 10. We had to get the walls and ceilings plastered too.

“I love finding old things and giving them a home, like old frames or pieces of driftwood. I love things that have texture, whether it be rust or something decaying. Picasso used to say if you are ever stuck, sit yourself down in front of an old wall and a world will be revealed to you. It’s a case of looking closer at things.”