Rae used to work as a sociologist/lecturer, and then counsellor at Birmingham University. Following early retirement in 1992 she studied Fine Art and Art History at Ludlow College, afterwards gaining a Higher National Certificate at Hereford College of Art and Design.

Perhaps stemming back to working in London in the late 1950’s Rae has been intrigued by abstraction, enjoying its freedom and ambiguity. Initially her work was semi-abstract but recently she has enjoyed the challenge of working in the abstract, often using mixed-media and collage. “Sometimes I begin with a stored memory of an abstract image; then I experiment with shape, tone, texture, line and colour to create an interesting composition.” In 2004, Rae founded Abstract Edge, a group of like-minded artists, who meet monthly to review work in progress.

Rae has exhibited locally on the Welsh Borders and also in Birmingham, Hereford, Leominster, London, Ludlow, Newtown, Shrewsbury and Telford.