Cornwall 1886. In a turbulent new marriage, Claira-a talented violinist-struggles to balance her creative drive against the conformist expectations of her husband, Munro, a farmer of strong Methodist persuasion, who is both enchanted by and fearful of his wife's passionate nature. Cornwall 1986. The newly arrived Claire-a painter-and her family have moved from boom-time London to allow her husband, Howard, to expand his property business. Claire has fallen in love with the crumbling farmhouse, Trethenna, while Howard still feels the pull of the city. As her own creativity develops, Claire's chance discovery of a nineteenth century painting from the local Newlyn School brings her life more closely in parallel with Claira's.