Margaret Powell
Worcester Artist
Inspired by the Malvern Hills
Margaret Powell is a Worcester-based artist whose original paintings celebrate the beauty of the Malvern Hills, the Worcestershire countryside and the quiet moments found in everyday life. Working in oils and acrylics, she creates expressive landscape paintings, vibrant still life works and bespoke commissioned pet portraits for collectors throughout the UK.
Classically trained in Poland and painting for over four decades, Margaret combines traditional artistic foundations with an impressionist approach that captures atmosphere, light and colour. Her work is exhibited throughout Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Birmingham, and is held in private collections across the country.
A Different Path to Becoming an Artist
Some people follow the obvious path. Mine wandered a little.
My parents hoped I would study either organic chemistry or English at university. In the end, I chose English Language and Literature, completing an integrated Master's degree and graduating with a first. Art was never my formal subject.
And yet, throughout all of it, I was painting.
I have painted in oils since I was twelve. Growing up in Poland, I was privately tutored by a professor of art and was offered a place at one of the country's leading art schools. My parents, both academics, believed a career in art was too uncertain. English felt like the safer option, so I followed that path.
But I also quietly carried my easel into the university art department, sat in on classes I wasn't enrolled in and simply kept painting.
Looking back, that probably sums up my relationship with art. It has never really been a choice. It has always been part of who I am.
Inspired by the Malvern Hills
After studying in Poland and Ireland, I eventually settled in Worcestershire with my husband, Simon.
The Malvern Hills captured my heart immediately and continue to inspire much of my work today. Every visit, whether I'm walking, running or hiking, I hear the music of Sir Edward Elgar in the wind. There's a personal connection too. Elgar's father was once the organist at my church, making the landscape feel even more woven into the area's artistic heritage.
It is the changing light, dramatic skies and constantly shifting colours that draw me back again and again. No two days ever look the same, and that's exactly what makes painting the Malverns such a joy.
Many of my larger paintings find homes with people who grew up in the area before moving away. Owning a painting of the Malvern Hills often becomes a way of bringing a treasured landscape back into their everyday lives.
My Style
Although I am classically trained, my paintings are not classical in style. They are best described as impressionist, with a strong emphasis on colour, atmosphere and the emotional connection we feel to a place.
I trained as an oil painter and oils remain my first love. Since 2018 I have also worked with acrylics because they dry much more quickly, although I deliberately paint with acrylics using many of the same techniques I use for oils. It's often impossible to tell which medium I've used.
Whether I'm painting a sweeping landscape, a vase of flowers or a much-loved family pet, my aim is always the same: to create a painting that feels alive.
Original Paintings and Commissions
Landscape painting is at the heart of my work, inspired by the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire and the surrounding countryside.
Alongside my landscapes, I also create still life paintings that celebrate colour, texture and light, as well as commissioned pet portraits that capture not only a pet's appearance but also its unique personality.
I welcome commissions throughout the year for landscapes, pet portraits and bespoke original paintings. Whether you'd like to remember a favourite view, celebrate a beloved companion or commission something completely unique, I'd be delighted to discuss your ideas.
Exhibitions
My work is exhibited regularly through Worcestershire Open Studios and in galleries across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Birmingham.Original paintings, limited edition prints and greeting cards are available to purchase through this website, with free delivery across mainland UK (excluding one of my largest pieces).
Beyond the Easel
When I'm not painting, you'll usually find me with a cup of Twinings Earl Grey tea in hand, tending my tropical city garden, where palms and exotic plants create a little oasis in Worcester.
I love music and enjoy both playing the piano and singing, particularly jazz and opera. I'm also an enthusiastic reader, although after spending five years immersed in literature at university, I now find myself reaching for non-fiction far more often than novels. Museums and art galleries are among my favourite places to spend an afternoon, and above all I'm proud to be the mother of two wonderful teenagers.