Margaret Traherne was a painter, textile and stained glass artist, born Hazel Wilkes at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, who lived for seven years in New York State before returning to England. On her return to England she attended Croydon School of Art, 1936-38 where her teachers included Ruskin Spear. Some years later in 1944 after winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art she furthered her studies under Lawrence Lee and Martin Travers, leaving in 1947. Though always a painter, she worked also in glass and textiles and is probably best known for her ten windows in the Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral and several other major works in stained glass including the Manchester Regiment window in Manchester Cathedral and the Lady Chapel Windows in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.