Artist Jemma Powell explores the wonder of women in India

Frank Water is excited to announce its collaboration with fine artist Jemma Powell, showcasing her incredible art of women in India.

Oxfordshire-based artist Jemma draws her inspiration from nature and her travels. Working ‘en plein air’ in watercolour, charcoal, pencil and oil pastel, she later develops her pictures in oil on board. Jemma often works from memory, intuitively applying paint, wiping it off, reapplying with a brush or palette knife, scrubbing it, and using her fingers to create expressive marks. Jemma says: “I like the mistakes, they are the most exciting part, things start to appear and the painting takes on a life of its own.” Jemma’s flower paintings reflect her love of the outdoors and the countryside that surrounds her home where she lives with her husband, singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti and their three children and three dogs.  

Jemma attended Bristol University, gaining a BA in Drama and a Diploma from The Oxford School of Drama. She has also worked as an actress for more than 20 years, appearing in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and TV shows such as Foyle’s War and the Netflix Series, The Stranger. She can currently be seen in a new adaptation of The Secret Garden and a new series for Sky called Devils.

They Stood Where The Sun Let Go, by Jemma Powell

Jemma, whose work is often featured in magazines and newspapers, including the Financial Times, Condé Naste Traveller, The Sunday Times, Country Life, House & Garden and ELLE, has drawn inspiration from her recent travels to India and from meeting Frank Water’s founder, Katie Alcott, hearing about the scope of the charity’s crucial work.

“Before travelling to Rajasthan, I met Katie, and we talked about how we could work together to raise awareness and help fund their projects, bringing safe water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities in need. With that in mind, I found myself drawn to scenes of women carrying water—figures moving with both strength and grace through heat and dust, including one painting titled Burden and Grace. These moments became the heart of this series, and 15% of the sales will go directly to Frank Water’s vital work. Just as I hope my paintings connect people to the beauty and resilience of Rajasthan, Frank Water connects communities to the life-giving resource of water.”

She Carried The Morning by Jemma Powell

Over the next 12 months, we hope Jemma will have the opportunity to meet several of the communities we work with in some of India’s most water-scarce regions. We will work closely with Jemma to showcase her incredible pieces. Follow us on social for updates and details on our future events.

If you’re interested in owning a piece of her art, view the collection at Cricket Fine Art. 15% of sales will be donated to Frank Water.