Isla was born in South Australia and took up art in the late 1960’s. She studied art in South Australia with Trevor Clare and watercolours with Ruth Tuck. Isla lived in the USA from 1975 to 1978 where she continued her art studies, belonged to the International Art Society and held her first solo exhibition. She has won many 1st awards including:
Queanbeyan Leagues Club Award in 1994 & W/c 1st prize 2011, 12, 13,14,17.
Queanbeyan City Council Award 1995.
Queanbeyan Art Society 1st open prize 2011, also Queanbeyan Molonglo River Ex.
1st W/c 2012 & best in show 2016.
50th. Anniversary Ex w/c prize 2017.
1st prize for W/c 1987 &2009, small painting prize 2006 at Tumut.
W/c 1st. at the Henry Lawson Ex. Grenfell 1982.
Royal Canberra Show 1st 1980, 82, 89, 91 and Champion Painting 1982.1st.
w/c 2007& Ngunnawal Landscape prize 2005. 1st Miniatures 2014. 1st Still Life 1017.
Royal Melbourne Show Special Prize for best drawing 1983 and 1st prize for miniatures 1985.
1st miniatures Holbrook 1984, Goulburn 1987 & 1988 & 1st W/c 2008 & 2014.
1st “Australia at Large” Exhibition AGRA (Australian Guild of Realist Artists) in Vic. 2001. Runner Up 2002 & 2005. She is a signatory member of AGRA. Isla also exhibited in the AGRA 40 Artists Regional Gallery touring Exhibition 1993. Selected for AGRA AAEA Awards, 2013, 14, 15, & 16. People’s Choice Cranleigh School Art Ex. 2011. ASOC 2012 & Molonglo Catchment Ex. 2013.
1st w/c Jindabyne 2006 & Best in Show Traditional 2016.
Australian Artist Magazine” Still Life and Flowers” finalist 2001.
1st Prize Cooma Gallery 2003.1st miniature 2007. John Briscoe Award 2016.W/c 2017.
Painting Prize Thirroul Arts Festival 2003.Winsor/Newton Opera Rose W/c finalist 2008. Inverell Shire Council Gallery Acquisitional Art Prize 2005.
Selected for James Irwin W/c Exhibition Wollongong Gallery 2008, 2010&2012. Maritime Awards Exhibition Vic. 2013, 15 & 16. Finalist , Clifton Award, 2013.
Has a W/c collection of African animals on display at Cockington Green.