Anthea Power

Anthea Power FSSI

Calligrapher and Illuminator

Anthea Power’s work is rooted in a lifelong devotion to the art of writing. Her early Italic hand, first developed at school, evolved profoundly during her years in Japan, where she studied Japanese brush lettering under a Master calligrapher. This formative experience later led her back in England to undertake traditional Western calligraphy training through the apprentice–master model with the distinguished Penny Price FSSI FCLAS and Ian Garrett FSSI.

Working professionally as a calligrapher and illuminator, Anthea creates bespoke manuscripts, lettering, and gilded works, and teaches widely through workshops and private tuition. Her practice spans historical scripts, contemporary design, and the meticulous craft of illumination.

In 2026 Anthea was elected Fellow of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators (2026), the Society’s highest level of membership.

Anthea works with charities, churches, academic bodies, corporate clients, and private patrons. She teaches for museums, art groups, and institutions — most recently delivering a historical scripts lecture and workshop for Microsoft’s studio, Rare.

In describing her work as a calligrapher and illuminator, Anthea has written:

‘Every decision — the choice of script, paper, layout, inter linear rhythm, negative space, and a craftsman’s handling of materials — has been made to convey what it is in the text that I have found and hope to communicate.

My works are acts of collaboration: a meeting between writer, maker, and viewer, in the hope that some of the layers of meaning within the words can be shared and fresh discoveries made. Although these will not be exhaustive, a dialogue has begun.

The process is always demanding, always absorbing, and never anything other than a challenge — but it is precisely in that challenge that my work finds its purpose.’

For enquiries about commissioning a work of calligraphy by Anthea Power, please contact Cobbold and Judd.