Laurel was born and raised on a mixed farm along the edge of the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan. She attributes her prairie roots and farm upbringing for strength of observation, as well as her success in developing a reputation as a representational artist of landscapes, buildings, flora and fauna. Learning through personal trial and error has been a lifelong enjoyment.
Over the past decade, Laurel has completed numerous commissioned pieces and held over twenty solo exhibitions. Travelling has influenced her work and she has sold artwork locally, nationally and internationally. She enjoys supporting charity fundraisers.
In 2018, after spending a number of winters in Victoria Laurel, along with her husband, moved to Victoria.