She studied at Glasgow School of Art and became head of the embroidery department.
She was a member of the "Glasgow School", sometimes called the ""Glasgow Movement".
She published five books on embroidery, including Needleweaving, published in 1922.
From 1921 to 1948 she lived in Patterdale, Cumbria. St. Patrick's church, Patterdale, houses some of her embroideries.