A top agent has said she was “amazed” by a client’s souvenir after they returned from a bespoke business trip she had booked. 

Victoria Bebb, founder of Victoria Bebb Private Travel, teamed up with Jemma Powell in January to work on an India itinerary for the Oxfordshire-based artist and former actor. 

Powell, who is known for her observational landscapes and “energetic” brushstrokes, is an avid globetrotter and regularly travels abroad in search of inspiration. Her job has taken her as far as Portofino, Marrakech and Lamu Island, all of which have fuelled the creative juices behind her stunning paintings. 

Having already visited so many places, choosing where to go next was no easy feat. After a lengthy consultation between Bebb and Powell, it was decided that Rajasthan – which is home to some of the world’s most beautiful palaces and hill forts – would be the perfect choice. 

Determined to curate an unforgettable experience, Bebb enlisted Florence Evans of India by Florence to help design a specialist trip for Powell. The brief was simple; deliver a bespoke itinerary in Rajasthan with plenty of artistic inspiration as well as the necessary downtime.

Over the course of the trip, Powell stayed in four properties: Sujan Jawai, a luxury safari camp dedicated to conservation; Taj Fateh Prakash Palace, a hotel facing Lake Pichola; LaaLee Jaipur, a boutique guest house in Jaipur; and The Imperial Delhi, a majestic estate in Janpath. 

She also visited a number of attractions, including Jantar Mantar observatory, the Amer village, the Amber Fort, Anokhi Museum and Nila House. 

Powell said this itinerary gave her “endless” inspiration, calling the destination a “feast for all the senses”. She painted and sketched the “colours, the light, the people and the food” outdoors, which is part of her signature style.

What moved Powell the most, however, were the scenes of everyday life in Rajasthan. She recalls being captured by the simpler moments, like “conversations outside a temple between a mother and a daughter” and “a woman rushing to buy flowers as an offering to the gods”. After a transformational 10 days, she returned to the UK bearing the ultimate souvenir.  

“Jemma brought back such amazing work, from sketches and paintings,” Bebb told TTG Luxury. “She’s kindly even let us use some of the sketches to promote my business. She’s just been brilliant at including me in her marketing.” 

Powell artist’s eye has also proven to be an invaluable asset to Bebb too, she says, provided her with much creative inspiration.

“I’m learning so much from working with Jemma,” she says. “Not only did she give great feedback on all of the hotels, but she was able to spot the tiny details. She experienced places when the light was at its most beautiful and vibrant. That’s extremely valuable information for a client.” 

Having thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of working with an artist, Bebb is keen to continue her partnership with Powell. She hopes to plan another overseas trip for her in the future, but in the meantime, she is working on a “second venture” with the talented artist: a London-based exhibition.

“I’m partnering with a few hotels in London to get her on their rooftops so she can paint the skyline. It’s going to be amazing,” Bebb says.