As a young child, Susan discovered watercolors quite by accident while painting on her mother's typing paper. Though she tried it again many times in her young adulthood, her disappointment in the results caused her to pursue other artistic passions, including photography and drawing. She received a degree in Fine Art and Commercial Art as well as in Photography. Viewing all these skills as tools for creativity, she illustrated and worked in the darkroom, and joined the corporate world for several years.

In 2006, Susan rediscovered her interest in watercolor when, as a gift for a friend, she painted portraits of her friend's Labradors. Those originals now hang in her friend's home and were the inspiration for her to pursue her rediscovered passion of watercolor. Concentrating on pet portraits and their comical as well as wonderful expressions, she takes her camera with her whenever possible, using the photos for inspiration as well as for her commissioned work.