Mara McGregor was born in Malaya where her father was a rubber planter, and later raised in South Africa where she grew up under the influence of her father's commercial art studios. The gift of drawing and painting is very strong in Mara's family, passing from generation to generation.

Mara met her husband Alan, an RAF Battle of Britain fighter pilot, when they were both living in East Africa and they have three children: two daughters and a son. While still in the RAF, they were posted to many places, both at home and abroad, and Mara painted portraits wherever they were stationed.

Her first Royal commission was of HRH Prince Charles in 1971. Since then, Mara has been privileged to have been commissioned to paint three portraits of HM The Queen (one for the Government of S W Australia) and two of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the second one having been commissioned by the Royal Warrant Holders for her 90th birthday, which now hangs in the Castle of Mey.

Mara has also been commissioned to paint many senior members of the Royal Family and has clients from many parts of the world for both portraits and racehorses.

She began painting horses in 1956 and then painted many of the winners of major races, including the Derby and the Grand National. Many of her horses were commissions through the Tryon Gallery, where they kept her portfolio.

Mara has had three exhibitions: two were given by John Solomon, one in the Bournemouth Gallery (where commissions were accepted on her behalf) and one in London. She was also given one in Harrods, all of which brought in welcome and exciting work.

Then, in 1997, tragedy struck when Alan died very suddenly. Not only was he her husband, but also her agent and also her essential and active partner, who saw to everything to do with their art business, which is what it had now become. Tragedy then struck again: eight months after Alan died, Mara suffered a back injury, which prevented her from painting for many years.

After a recent safari in Kenya, Mara is now also enjoying painting wildlife, which she does from her studio in Hampshire.