Elizabeth Paxson was born in Syracuse, New York and raised in southwestern Michigan. From a family of artists, at age 14 she enrolled in high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, graduating in 1969 with the highest honor in visual arts; the Young Artist's Award. Her work became a part of Interlochen's permanent collection. She also won high honors in painting and sculpture and National Scholastic Art Awards in ceramics and metals.

After a year's study at Boston University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, she returned to the Midwest and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1972.

Since 1972, she has shown and sold her work in galleries in New England and in the Midwest, most recently at Thirdstone Gallery & Art Works in Saugatuck, Art Beat Gallery in Grand Rapids, Midnight Gallery in Holland, Michigan, the Gem & Century Theater in Detroit and the Michigan Artist's Gallery in Sutton's Bay. For over twenty years, she freelanced as a graphic artist, illustrator and writer in addition to continuing her work as a fine artist.

Ms. Paxson works in a variety of media, including more traditional ones like oil, acrylic and color pencil, but her most recent innovative work uses dye and collage on paper, creating vivid images that evoke an other-worldly feeling. Her clay pieces feature unique stoneware and earthenware teapots, sculptural pieces and majolica glazed tiles and plates featuring mermaids and other designs. Whimsical assemblage pieces made from found objects and driftwood speak to her love of nature and play with animistic forms.