Mary moved from Argyll, to Somerset in 1987, where she continues to paint the birds and wild live she loves. Privately taught watercolour painting by Ron Jesty RBA, she first exhibited miniatures at the Old School Gallery, Woolland, Dorset in 1990. The same year she had miniatures accepted by the Hilliard Society and the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers. In 1991 she had her first successful one man exhibition of fifty miniatures at the Old School House Gallery, Woolland. Mary was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers in the November of that year and a full Member in 1994.

Although painting a variety of subjects in watercolour on Ivorine and vellum, Mary is particularly known for her depiction of birds, poultry and waterfowl. Five reproductions of her work were used to illustrate the front cover of Fancy Fowl, specialist breeders magazine. Her miniatures have been featured in articles in both The Artist and The Leisure Painter. Mary is also listed in the 1994 Volume of Who's Who in Art, and in the Royal Miniature Society One Hundred Years book.

In 1997 Mary was awarded a Gold Bowl Honorable Mention at the Royal Miniature Society annual exhibition, and was also a runner up for the Best Group award in 1999. A Commendation of Excellence was awarded for a set of miniatures featuring Budgerigars & Still Life in 1998 at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, A Million Brushstrokes Exhibition. Currently her work can be found in permanent exhibitions at the Llewellyn Alexander (fine arts) Gallery, 124 -126 The Cut, Waterloo, London. Mary has exhibited at the Barbican Centre, The Hilliard Society, The Society of Botanical Artists and is a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, her work has been shown in galleries and exhibitions in Europe, America and Japan.