In the process of updating her 18th-century home, this owner found herself unexpectedly drawn to bright patterns and lively colours, bringing warmth and joy into the hubbub of their cosy family space

14 JANUARY

Q&A

She grew up believing in divine creation, but a radical rethink led Ella Al-Shamahi to evolutionary biology. Now, the presenter of the BBC science series Human shares her story

The secret meaning of Vermeer’s art

Although some perceived the advent of the locomotive as a threat to the countryside, by allowing artists a quick and easy way to travel, it broadened their choice of painting horizons, discovers Carla Passino