Susan L’Estrange was born and educated in Cape Town South Africa, where she enjoyed high achievements in Art and Dramatic Art. Following her high school education she went on to complete a 2 year diploma in Speech and Drama, which was the first in a series of art-based courses and practices, including dramatic art, fine art, photography, graphic design, make-up, and creative writing.

Susan then began a career in filmmaking as a make-up artist for SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation television).

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In 1989 she immigrated to Australia and worked as a make-up tutor at SCOMA (Sydney college of make-up art). In 1991 she taught video production at AIIS (Australian International Independent School) and during this time she also took on the role as director of the ATOM (Australian Teachers of Media) Panasonic Student film/video Festival.

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The next phase saw her studying the art of photography at ACP (  the Australian Centre for Photography) in Paddington, NSW. This was to accompany and develop her already existing painting practice

 

By 2005, she had moved into mixed media and created and sold many art works incorporating both painting and photography, via several galleries, including MLC Gallery Pyrmont, Art Moment Bondi Beach, Art House Pitt St, Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Frances Keevil Gallery Double Bay, Patina Antiques Mosman and Patina Antiques Queen St Woollahra.

 

In 2011, Susan chose to focus mainly on her photography practice and created a business producing professional portraits. She has simultaneously continued her mixed media art practice and uses advanced Photoshop techniques, crossing from the portrait realm into theatre, fantasy and historical costume references.

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Susan's work celebrates the beauty and highlights the vulnerability of femininity through a seemingly “looking glass” style. 

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Her ability to draw out the unmasked individual in front of the lens is evidenced in her collection of male portraits.