Artist in oil on wood panel and mixed media on various papers, born in Cheshire, but lived most of her life in Scotland, especially Edinburgh. She attended North Berwick High School, then did various jobs for a decade until 1985. From 1986–7 studied art at Stevenson College, Edinburgh; obtained a first-class honours degree at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, 1987–91; did postgraduate studies there, 1991–2; in late 1992 attending evening classes in printmaking at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1992 joined Edinburgh Printmakers’ Workshop. McRae’s awards included Cornwall Steele Award, 1989–90 and 1990–1; she was a runner-up with a special commendation in Morrison Scottish Portrait Award, 1991; and won second prize at Hunting/Observer Competition, 1992, first prize, 1998.