Last night I had the joy of being transported to the Greek Island of Lesvos, when Claire Lloyd talked about her life and shared the inspirations for her new book, My Greek Island Home.

When I bought my house on Lesvos, I was led by instinct — over the years I have learned to follow it without question. People always ask me how I came to be here. 

Our first glimpse of Lesvos from the air was exciting:

the deep blue-green Aegean Seas and a huge landmass rising from it.

Dawn was breaking and warm colours streaked the horizon, a preview of the beautiful day ahead.

My Greek Island Home is a memoir of Claire’s daily life in a village on the island of Lesvos.

Feeling exhausted by her life’s hectic pace in London, Claire captures her journey to living a more simple life in the rugged beauty of a traditional Greek island village that has led to a sense of peace and the return of her creative drive.

… endless sun, calming white-washed walls, salt-sharp air,

the tinkle of goat bells and the musical chatter of buzzing, outdoor village life.

The Book

My Greek Island Home describes Claire’s journey to a small village in Greece – the ancient land of gods and poets, where the seasons govern a way of life that has barely changed over thousands of years. Accompanied by Claire’s stunning photographs filled with colour and light, this inspirational story of reconnecting with nature and community, and finding beauty in the smallest details, will make you see the world anew.

Artist, designer and photographer Claire Lloyd had a successful career in London, a beautiful apartment and a life filled with excitement and travel. However, she was beginning to feel exhausted by her life’s hectic pace. One day a chance conversation with a friend led her to the Greek island of Lesvos, where she finally found what she was looking for – a sense of peace and the return of her creative drive.

It draws on the importance of community living in a time when the world feels so disjointed. Frank, intimate and beautifully photographed, My Greek Island Home is about making a home in a strange land and discovering the joy of nature and creativity. It introduces us to the locals of Lesvos and their traditions, explores the intricate rituals of daily life. Armchair travelers will be transported by Claire’s evocative descriptions and photography of the food, people and places of Lesvos, while actual travelers will discover a wealth of new ideas for their next trip.

About Claire Lloyd

Claire Lloyd was born in Australia, and moved to London in her early twenties after two and a half years as an art director at Australian Vogue. In London she worked at The World of Interiors and then as an art director for the launch of the British edition of W magazine. From there she built a stellar career in magazines, film, video, books and property. Her first book, Sensual Living, showed readers how to create a home that stimulates all the senses. Claire lives in Greece with her partner and a large number of animals.

{Images & source: photography by Claire Lloyd. Visit Claire’s delightful blog, Claire Lloyd loves and her website. There is an extract from the book published in The Australian here.}