Susan Hazard has created art since her earliest years. A strong interest and focus on exploring the artistic world led her to classes at the San Francisco Art Institute, the Santa Barbara Art Institute, Santa Barbara City College and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara in painting and printmaking in 1990.  While completing her education in Santa Barbara she began her professional art career as an inaugural member of the Sabado Domingo Outdoor Art Show in Santa Barbara (now known as the Santa Barbara Beach Art Show) and group exhibitions with the Santa Barbara Art Association.

 After travels through the western United States, Canada, Mexico and Hawaii, Susan traveled to Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. Her intense interest in the natural beauty of Ireland resulted in a move from her hometown of Santa Barbara, California to County Mayo in 1991. During her residence in Ireland of over three years she was involved in numerous solo art exhibitions and a number group shows. Susan also organized and taught watercolor and oil painting classes for adults, including oil painting with palette knives classes at the Taylor Gallery in County Sligo, Ireland. In 1999 she was honored with being awarded the Boerner Botanic Garden (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) Artist of the Year. In 2005 Susan moved to the Pacific Northwest and when not traveling, continues to paint gardens and plein air landscapes.