After completing a degree in history and English at the University of Western Australia in 1968, Sue studied graphic design at the London School of Printing. On returning to Western Australia, she lectured in typographic design at Perth Technical College and became the first designer at the new Fremantle Arts Centre Press. A period of freelance work and involvement in a small screen printing business in Pemberton and Healesville in Victoria followed. Sue then worked as a designer for a public library service for three years while completing a graduate diploma in librarianship at the University of Melbourne. Sue then worked for several years as a reference librarian at Swinburne University, before returning to Perth to join the Library and Information Service at Curtin University from 1997 to 2007. Currently Sue is a freelance graphic designer, providing web and print designs, illustrations and research.