Susan Hill spent her childhood in the English countryside, drawing animals, people, and whatever caught her eye. She moved to Canada at eleven, and from there to New Jersey for high school and college. A very influential art teacher encouraged her creativity, which led to her earning her bachelor’s in Fine Arts Education. She went on to teach art in junior high school when she moved to California.

Courtesy of Susan Hill

After her children were in school, Hill worked as a Technical Illustrator in the aerospace industry until retirement in 2007. She designed and built a house in Tehachapi, where she lived for thirty years. She drew inspiration for her paintings from the Tehachapi mountains. Hill moved to Cambria in 2016 and paints the beautiful Central Coast. She also enjoys creating scarecrows for Cambria’s annual festival!

Hill also illustrates children’s books aimed at middle school readers, authored by her good friend Cynthia Waldman. The Butterfly Basket was published in 2014 and its sequel, Turning Gold, followed in 2021. Both books are available in the Cambria library and a third book is currently in production.

Courtesy of Susan Hill

Hill’s exhibit is on display at the Cambria Library through April 29. The Cambria Library is located at 1043 Main Street and is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Thursday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; and Friday and Saturday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.