In 1948, she enrolled at the
Plymouth College of Art, where she learnt a careful observation of detail and skilful drawing under William Mann. She then worked at the
Plymouth City Art Gallery, where she was involved in educating children about its collections and loaning pictures to local schools. In 1958, she moved to London where she unsuccessfully applied to the
Royal College of Art. Instead, she gained employment as secretary and personal assistant to the
Keeper of the
Schools at the
Royal Academy of Arts; first
Sir Henry Rushbury and then his successor
Peter Greenham. She continued painting, becoming a member of the
Royal Watercolour Society in 1967 and exhibiting her work with the Royal Academy. In 1969, Harris attended a glass decorating class by Peter Dreiser at
Morley College. She left her job at the Royal Academy to set up a studio in
Barnes, London, specialising in glass engraving. She worked with a diamond drill on vessels and larger architectural pieces, mostly to commission. These included memorial doors at
St Mary's Church, Barnes, screen panels commemorating the
Punjab Frontier Force in
St Luke's Church, Chelsea, and a bowl celebrating the 10th anniversary of the
Garden Museum. She was a founding member of the
Guild of Glass Engravers in 1975, and became a "brother" of the
Art Workers' Guild in 1981. She was also a member of the
New English Art Club. She was elected Master of the Art Workers' Guild for 1997. ==Personal life==