Marion Townsend, niece of the renowned Polish Impressionist Marian Mokwa, was born in Johannesburg. After matriculating she attended teachers training college, but studied art at the Johannesburg Art School in the evenings.

Marion has been a member of the Watercolour Society of South Africa since 1990. In 1995 she gained her associateship and in 1998 was the chairperson of the Johannesburg branch.

She held her first solo exhibition at the Watercolour Café in 1995 and has since then participated in many group exhibitions. In 2002 Marion gained second place in the Winsor & Newton national painting competition. Her recent acrylic paintings have also been well received.

Marion’s works are in galleries throughout southern Africa and in private collections in Europe, America, Australia and the Far East.