Sylvia was born in 1956, and has lived most of her life in East Anglia. Many of her paintings are inspired by its landscape and coastal regions. She attended Colchester School of Art and Hockerill College of Education where she studied painting as a main subject. After a spell of teaching in schools and enjoying her two young sons she decided to concentrate on painting. Since 1988 she has been painting professionally and has had numerous solo and mixed exhibitions.

Sylvia's paintings are regularly exhibited at prestigious galleries in East Anglia, London and further afield. Her work has been selected for exhibition at the Mall Galleries on several occasions, including the Pastel Society, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Laing Landscape Exhibition. Sylvia was elected to the East Anglia Group of Marine Artists in 2003, exhibiting with them two or three times per year.

For a number of years Sylvia has demonstrated her expressive and colourful paintings to art clubs and societies. She also runs short painting courses and workshops throughout the year. Students particularly enjoy her inspirational demonstrations and friendly teaching manner. The Artist magazine has published two articles by Sylvia on her unique painting techniques. In May 2004, Sylvia was artist in residence at Burton Agnes Hall, a stately home in Yorkshire, and produced a number of works inspired by the interior and gardens. She will be returning in June 2005 for another residency.