Artist house husband fights ‘get a job’ divorce ruling

AN ARTIST who was supported by his “high-flying” wife has won permission to challenge a divorce ruling ordering him to leave their £1million home and get himself a full-time job.

Kirsten Turner and Rupert NightingaleIG

Kirsten Turner was the breadwinner in her marriage to Rupert Nightingale

Accountant Kirsten Turner, 41, used her £420,000-a year-salary as a partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers to act as the family breadwinner during her seven-year marriage to Rupert Nightingale, 42.

“House husband” Mr Nightingale looked after their child and earned a little as a fine art photographer, London’s Appeal Court was told.

After the marriage ended in 2010 he was awarded a £300,000 lump sum and Mrs Turner was ordered to pay maintenance of about £50,000 a year.

But Mr Nightingale was unhappy when he was told that his payout would be partially funded by the sale of the £1million former matrimonial home in Wimbledon, south-west London, where he currently lives.

His maintenance had also been calculated on the basis that he started earning a full-time wage.

The husband is now challenging the order, seeking to stay in the home and up his maintenance payments by more than 50 per cent.

Michael Glaser, for Mr Nightingale, told Lord Justice McCombe that there had been “more or less a reversal of the traditional husband and wife roles” and it was “not reasonable” to force Mr Nightingale into an office job.

Lord Justice McCombe granted Mr Nightingale permission to appeal.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?