Jess Alken-Theasby CO02

Outside Pentreve Boarding House

After leaving Truro School, Jess went on to study at Falmouth School of Art before being offered an internship at MTV that would take her straight to the heart of London’s media and cultural scene.

Packing her bags and her Apple Mac, she dived headfirst into the vibrant chaos of city life. Working in MTV’s online department, Jess found herself designing content, attending film premieres, and soaking in the glamour of the entertainment industry. “I went to the Brit Awards, the BAFTAs, and numerous movie premieres,” she remembers. Her creative energy was thriving, and her circle of friends expanded to include fellow Old Truronians like Claire Martin CO02, with whom she shared many of London’s glittering moments.

Though London offered excitement and opportunity, Jess’s heart never truly left Cornwall. The coast, the history, and the sense of place all called her back – and she listened. Her return was not just personal, but also deeply professional. “Although I enjoyed my six-year stint in London, Cornwall is my home,” she says. Today, she lives near Padstow with her husband and two sons, Ernie, aged 7 and Miles, aged 5.

Returning home wasn’t just a change of address; it was the beginning of an ambitious new chapter. Jess began restoring old properties, dilapidated yet handsome buildings that others might have overlooked. She describes it as more than a job: it’s a mission rooted in family tradition. “My father, uncle, grandfather – they all have a history of renovating some of the most handsome houses in Cornwall,” she explains. And from her mother, a LaGuardia Music and Art School graduate raised in New York City. “She lived on 9th avenue on the 19th floor surrounded by culture but in 1982 found herself in Cornwall, a few years later I was born and living amongst a huge restoration project at Harlyn House, near Padstow.”

Jess’s work is not just about restoration; it’s about storytelling. “Most people who come to stay with us want to embrace the windy walks, the wild waves and the cosy fireplaces. We lean into the wildness of the coastline – no smooth edges or clean lines. Everything is slightly wonky, authentic, rugged and raw,” she says. Her projects, like the recently re-opened Atlanta Trevone, reflect this ethos. Following a £2 million renovation (made possible due to the sale of Jess’s childhood home, Harlyn House, now the Pig Hotel), the Victorian terrace now offers a luxury self-catering experience that rivals high-end hotels like The Newt or Limewood, but with a uniquely Cornish soul and the privacy that a hotel can’t offer.

Every detail is considered. From the young designers she champions, to the local artists and hand-crafted materials she sources, her approach is collaborative, thoughtful, and elevated.

“My background may not be specifically interior design, but I like to think I have the ability to pull together the most talented team of people to make my own restorations a reality. I fiercely admire Robin and Judy Hutson for their interiors, their business ethics and the way they have elevated hospitality in Cornwall. The builders onsite are hardworking, kind and considerate people – and stonemasonry, well – it is just as much an art as the architecture itself.”

The recognition hasn’t gone unnoticed. Jess’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Tatler, Country Life, The Sunday Times, and House & Garden – a personal milestone. But perhaps the highest praise came from Marcus Barwell of Soho House, who said, “I can’t honestly remember the last time I stayed in a place as welcoming, stylish and comfortable as yours.”

Family life now weaves seamlessly into Jess’s professional rhythm. Her children attend Truro School’s Prep. “We are in Truro almost every day of the week” and her eldest has already developed a love for the school’s cricket camps. The echoes of her own school days feel not just nostalgic but newly relevant, as she watches her sons begin their own journeys.

Her future remains firmly grounded in Cornwall, but her ambitions continue to expand. A newly acquired abandoned farm shed just 100 yards from the sea is next on the list. “We’ve already envisioned leaning into a Matunuck Beach-style hut with shingle-clad walls and a whitewashed porch,” she says with excitement. It’s a vision of coastal living rooted in simplicity, heritage, and the beauty of imperfection.

Beyond her creative work, Jess is also preparing for the London Marathon, running in support of Macmillan and her father, who is currently battling cancer. “Some of my best ideas were born whilst running,” she says, referring to her regular runs along the coastal paths that inspire her work and ground her spirit.

From antique shop strolls to Sunday lunches at The Pig and rock pooling with her boys, Jess has cultivated a life of depth and richness. It’s a blend of old and new, of dreams once whispered in a Truro School classroom and now fully realised along the Cornish shores.

Asked what advice she would give to current students or aspiring creatives, Jess is clear: “You don’t have to be good at everything. Just find the one thing that you enjoy, dive in, and the rest will follow.”

Jess’ OT story is one of coming full circle – from an inspired student sketching in an art class with Mr Heseltine, to a celebrated creative reshaping the Cornish landscape, one building at a time. Her journey after leaving School is an example of how life is not always a straight line, but can be a winding path paved with a passion, and the courage to return home.