Marie-Claire was born, raised and educated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. For as long as Marie-Claire can remember she has been drawing anything, and everything, in sight.

Constantly striving to learn more, Marie-Claire always had special assignments and special tutoring in school. Those extra lessons paid off as some of her gouache and water colour have been on exhibit at the Botanical Gardens in Montreal.

Marie-Claire has attended a number of schools including, McGill University where, under the mentorship of Omer Serre, she learned the basics of oil painting in the evenings.  In addition to her education at McGill, Marie-Claire attended 3 years at Harris Studio in LaSalle, Montreal. There she was taught by Janet Harris, Helene Lillig and many others. Marie-Claire was also a student for one year at Visual Art Centre in West Mount, Quebec where she learned all about pastels from Johanna Nash.

With her own education in place, Marie-Claire and her husband decided to move West. In 1984, the couple settled in Calgary, Alberta.  Marie-Claire taught the "Basics of Oil Painting" at the Shadow Box Gallery, located in Midnapore, for 5 years.

In 1990, Marie-Claire and her husband continued further West, this time settling in Cochrane, Alberta. For the past 8 years Marie-Claire has been teaching at the Paint Box, located in Cochrane.

In addition to her teaching, Marie-Claire still paints and sells, mostly on commission.