Painter, born in Falkirk, Stirlingshire. She gained her diploma at Edinburgh College of Art, 1955–9; Edinburgh College of Speech & Drama, where she graduated, 1955–8; completed postgraduate studies at the College of Art, 1960; did a year’s fine art studies at Edinburgh University, 1961; and attended Moray House College of Education for teacher training in 1963. Hansen gained a number of travelling scholarships which allowed her to work in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany, having a studio in Berlin, 1985–6. She gained a number of awards and was artist-in-residence, École de Peinture, Castelnau de Montmiral, Tarn, France, in 1988. Hansen was an energetic exhibitor in group and solo shows, where her strongly gestural figurative paintings were immediately recognisable.